Skip to main content

Interconnecting History, African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Science

  • Chapter
African Indigenous Knowledge and the Sciences

Abstract

In this chapter we discuss the genesis of science in Africa with reference, first of all, to the South African Cape region, about one hundred thousand years ago (Jacobs, Duller, Henshilwood & Wintle, 2006). We then reflect on aspects of science as it evolved in ancient northeast Africa with some reference to ancient Nubia, Ethiopia and Egypt, highlighting aspects of the contributions made in ceramics, building technology, medicine and metallurgy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abah, J., Mashebe, P., & Denuga, D. D. (2015). Prospect of integrating African indigenous knowledge systems into the teaching of sciences in Africa. American Journal of Educational Research, 3(6), 668–673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adyanga, F. A. (2014). African indigenous science in higher education in Uganda. A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Graduate Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, J. (2005). The art of medicine in Ancient Egypt. New York, NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asante, M. K. (1987). The Afrocentric idea. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berna, F., Goldberg, P., Horwitz, L. K., Brink, J., Holt, S., Bamford, M., & Chazan, M. (2012, May 15). Microstratigraphic evidence of in situ fire in the Acheulean strata of Wonderwerk Cave, Northern Cape province, South Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, 109(20), E1215–E1220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bocoum, H. (2004). Introduction. In H. Bocoum (Ed.), The origins of iron metallurgy in Africa: New light on its antiquity, West and Central Africa (pp. 21–30). Paris: UNESCO Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callahan, G., & Leeson, P. T. (2006). Scientism in the way of science: Hope for heterodoxy in modern economics. New York, NY: Mimeo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chikaire, J., Osuagwu, C. O., Ihenacho, R. A., Oguegbuchulam, M. N., Ejiogu-Okereke, N., & Obi, K. U. (2012). Indigenous knowledge system: The need for reform and the way forward. Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science, 1(8), 201–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connah, G. (2001). African civilizations – An archaeological perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Maret, P. (2004). Central Africa: Knowing iron. In H. Bocoum (Ed.), The origins of iron metallurgy in Africa: New light on its antiquity, West and Central Africa (pp. 127–134). Paris: UNESCO Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffey, A. (2012). Mapungubwe: Interpretation of the gold content of the original gold burial M1, A620. Journal of African Archaeology, 10(2), 175–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffey, A., Tiley-Nel, S., de Kamper, G., & Ernst, J. (2008). The art and heritage collections of the University of Pretoria. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehret, C. (2002). The civilizations of Africa: A history to 1800. Charlotteville, VA: University Press of Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emeagwali, G., & Dei, G. J. S. (Eds.). (2014). African indigenous knowledge and the disciplines. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finch, C. (1998). The star of deep beginnings: The genesis of African science and technology. Decatur, Georgia, GA: Khenti Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henshilwood, C. S. (2007). Fully symbolic sapiens behaviour: Innovation in the Middle Stone Age at Blombos Cave, South Africa. In. C. Stringer & P. Mellars (Eds.), Rethinking the human revolution: New behavioural and biological perspectives on the origins and dispersal of modern humans (pp. 123–132). MacDonald Institute Research Monograph series, Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henshilwood, C. S., d’Errico, F., van Niekerk, K. L., Conquinot, Y., Jacobs, Z., Lauritzen, S.-E., … García-Moreno, R. (2011). A 100,000-year-old Ochre-processing workshop at Blombos Cave, South Africa. Science, 334(6053), 219–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henshilwood, C. S., D’Errico, F., Marean, C. W., Milo, R. G., & Yates, R. (2001). An early bone tool industry from the Middle Stone Age at Blombos Cave, South Africa: Implications for the origins of modern human behaviour, symbolism, and language. Journal of Human Evolution, 41, 631–678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henshilwood, C. S., Sealy, J. C., Yates, R., Cruz-Uribe, K., Goldberg, P., Grine, F. E., … Watts, I. (2001). Blombos cave, Southern Cape, South Africa: Preliminary report on the 1992–1999 excavations of the Middle Stone Age levels. Journal of Archaeological Science, 28(4), 421–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horsthemke, K. (2004). ‘Indigenous knowledge’ – Conceptions and misconceptions. Journal of Education, 32, 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, A. L. (2012). The folly of scientism. The New Atlantis: A Journal of Technology & Society, 32–50. Retrieved December 30, 2015, from www.thenewatlantis.com/docLib/20121116_TNA37Hughes.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, I. (2011). Monopolizing knowledge: A scientist refutes religion-denying, reason-destroying scientism. Belmont, MA: Fias Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huysecom, E., Rasse, M., Lespez, L., Neumann, K., Fahmy, A., Ballouche, A., … Soriano, S. (2009). The emergence of pottery in Africa during the 10th millenium cal BC: New evidence from Ounjougou (Mali). Antiquity, 83, 905–917.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, Z., Duller, G. A. T., Henshilwood, C. S., & Wintle, A. G. (2006). Extending the chronology of deposits at Blombos Cave, South Africa, using optical dating of single and multiple grains of quartz. Journal of Human Evolution, 51, 255–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kante, P. (2004). Indigenous knowledge and environmental concerns in Africa. Economic and Political Weekly, 4(22), 31–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaya, H. O. (2014). Revitalizing African indigenous ways of knowing and knowledge production. E-International Relations: Open access website for students and scholars of international politics. Retrieved December 29, 2015, from www.e-ir.info/2014/05/26/revitalizing-african-indigenous-waysof-knowing-and-knowledge-production/

  • Kimwaga, S. (2010). African indigenous psychology and Eurocentricism. Unpublished Manuscript, College of Business Education, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markowitz, Y., & Doxey, D. (2014). Jewels of Ancient Nubia. Boston, MA: Museum of Fine Arts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunn, J. (1996). Ancient Egyptian medicine. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okafor, E. E. (2004). Twenty-five centuries of Bloomery iron smelting in Nigeria. In H. Bocoum (Ed.), The origins of iron metallurgy in Africa: New light on its antiquity, West and Central Africa (pp. 43–54). Paris: UNESCO Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owusu-Ansah, F. E., & Mji, G. (2013). African indigenous knowledge and research. African Journal of Disability, 2(1), Art. #30, 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillipson, D. (2000). Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993–7 (Vol. 1). London: British Institute in East Africa (B.I.E.A.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauneron, S. (2000). The priests of Ancient Egypt. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, P. (1997). Iron technology in East Africa. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seleti, Y. N. (2010, February). Interfacing indigenous knowledge with other knowledge systems in the knowledge economy: The South African case. Library Symposium 2010: Presidential Meeting. Knowing is not enough: Engaging in the knowledge economy, Stellenbosch University South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semali, L. M., & Kincheloe, J. L. (1999). Introduction: What is indigenous knowledge and why should we study it? In L. M. Semali & J. L. Kincheloe (Eds.), What is indigenous knowledge? Voices from the academy. New York, NY & London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shizha, E. (2014). Indigenous knowledge systems and the curriculum. In G. Emeagwali & G. J. S. Dei (Eds.), African indigenous knowledge and the disciplines (pp. 113–128). Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shizha, E. (2015). Reclaiming indigenous cultures in African education. In W. J. Jacobs, S. Y. Cheng, & M. K. Porter (Eds.), Indigenous education: Language, culture, and identity (pp. 301–317). New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanyanyiwa, V. I., & Chikwanha, M. (2011). The role of indigenous knowledge systems in the management of forest resources in Mugabe area, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 13(3), 132–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tribolo, C., Mercier, N., Selo, M., Joron, J-L., Reyss, J-L., Henshilwood, C. S., … Yates, R. (2006). TL dating of burnt lithics from Blombos Cave (South Africa): Further evidence for the antiquity of modern human behaviour. Archaeometry, 48(2), 341–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Sense Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Emeagwali, G., Shizha, E. (2016). Interconnecting History, African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Science. In: Emeagwali, G., Shizha, E. (eds) African Indigenous Knowledge and the Sciences. Anti-colonial Educational Perspectives for Transformative Change. SensePublishers, Rotterdam. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-515-9_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-515-9_1

  • Publisher Name: SensePublishers, Rotterdam

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-6300-515-9

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics