Journal: What is knowledge

List of Abbreviations

1. IK – Indigenous Knowledge

2. WHO – World Health Organisation

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction. p.4

1.1 Conceptualization Purpose. p.4

2.0 Indigenous Knowledge p.5

3.0 Indigenous Knowledge and Art p.6

4.0 Conclusion p.6

1.0 Introduction.

1.1 Conceptualization Purpose.

This paper will examine and analyze theoretical review of what is in the Literature regarding Knowledge and what has transpired over time especially in Tanzania. There will be a summary of some literature which discuss knowledge from different perspectives. The paper will end with a conclusion which will give some perspectives on the subject as well as the relationship with Community Economic Development.

Knowledge refers to the ability to understand and find solutions to problems. It creates awareness and a general understanding of a particular problem or issue before addressing it. Whenever we discover something new this is linked to knowledge. Scientific inquiries, research technological achievements, all relate to knowledge.

In “The Socratic Movement” edited by Waerdt, it is stipulated that Socrates believed that knowledge of nature is entirely “beyond human capacity” he also believed that “some knowledge of nature of the universe may be attained by human beings but not the causes of celestial phenomena. He believed that human beings may not be able to discover everything about nature. He called his philosophical opponents of nature. “madmen” who fail to recognize the limitations of human knowledge.

In a Book review “Before and After Socrates by Francis Macdonald Cornford. The Journal of Philosophy Vol. 30 No. 19 (1933) CUP, Socrates searched for the end of living. The great and revolutionary achievement of Socrates was the discovery that the true self was not the body but the soul that is the seat of self-knowledge and of self rule. His mission was to substitute for the morality of conformity and ideas of spiritual manhood “rising above the commonly acknowledged bounds of human capacity”.

2.0 Indigenous Knowledge

Tanzania has developed an indigenous knowledge database which is a product of the Tanzania Development Gateway, an initiative that uses Information Technology and the internet to promote social and economic development. In the Tanzania Development Gateway (2007) there is an Indigenous Knowledge Database Sharing and Dissemination of IK Information.

Mosimege (2005) defines Indigenous Knowledge as the local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society not knowledge generated by universities, research institutions. It is the basis of local level decision making in agriculture, health care food preparation, education, natural resource management and a host of other activities in rural communities Warren (1991). It is a synonym of traditional and local knowledge developed by a community. Again, Warren (1992). It is unique traditional, local existing within and developed in geographic area.

Another example is on utilization of Indigenous knowledge in the fields of food security, medicine and vegetables. The Tanzania Development Gateway (2006) shares that the vision of a truly global knowledge partnership will be realized when people in the developing countries participate as “Contributors and users of knowledge”.

Some cited examples are on, preserving indigenous knowledge for food security among the Maasai and Barbaig pastoralists of Tanzania whereby they use extensive knowledge of livestock and biodiversity to sustain themselves across changing environmental conditions. Women significantly preserve this knowledge by maintaining animal health, foraging plants and managing pastoral lands.

Another example on same website is the malaria herb which has become a top cash crop in Tanzania, as a major source of artemesinin a key ingredient in the new generation of anti malaria which the World Health Organization (WHO) says are the key to fighting this deadly disease. Based on the ancient Chinese herbal remedy, it is now known as artemesinin a combination therapy currently proved as the most effective malaria drug.

Moreover, there have been the indigenous vegetables in Tanzania considered valuable because of their nutritional value and danger of extinction. They are significant in food security for the under privileged in urban and rural settings. Although threatened by extinction. These are crop species genuinely native to the area. They play an important role in Tanzania’s health sector, and as a source of income.

3.0 Indigenous Knowledge and Art

The Makonde carving www.makondecarvings.com. is probably the best known art work produced in East and Central Africa. The Makonde use the African Blackwood, the ‘mpingo”. These are made in Southern Tanzania which is the home of the World Famous Makonde. By having their products purchased, there is a more to support poverty reduction and livelihood for rural communities. Their work is both traditional and contemporary reflecting a tribal past and a response to urban life. They utilize their tribal myths and stories to design masterful work.

One example of a successful group is called Ukombozi (2006). These had a desire to break free from the exploitative economic relationship between carvers and shop-owners to empower themselves to seek out new markets and a better and more secure livelihood. They engaged in English classes to be able to communicate directly with foreign buyers and avoid middlemen / shop owners who paid unfair prices for “highly skilled time consuming and arduous work”. The shop owners would then sell the carvings at highly prices to tourists.

4.0 Conclusion

The efforts shared above are about the way man has used his brain to create knowledge to solve life’s problems. What remains important is to work out ways of activating indigenous knowledge to make it more useful to be able to reduce poverty in the community. Once it is activated and improved then it should be disseminated to other people and other areas. These in turn will lead to a knowledgeable community empowered to address the multiple faces of poverty. Community Economic Development has some links with knowledge. Firstly, the community is the home of indigenous knowledge. There are many people in the community who have wisdom and are knowledgeable. Some of these are already earmarked as community leaders and decision makers. Others are community craftsmen, renowned farmers, fishermen and so on. According to the principles of CED the community needs to identify the various resources and talents embedded in it and work out ways of benefiting from them. Through knowledge. In a participatory and collaborative manner the members could share the various knowledge capacities and build a sustainable reservoir of knowledge which they could utilize whenever time and need required. Communities have to be made aware of the significance of knowledge as a powerful tool for their survival and that it is one of the mechanism of fighting poverty. The aim should be to increase productivity, income, food security and improvement in health. Communities should use knowledge to solve problems defend the use of traditional food crops which are actually more nutritious and life prolonging. When people think by using their capacities, they come up with new things create more knowledge keep sharing what they own and support one another. That will be community at its best!

Bibliography

1 .The Tanzania Development Gateway: Indigenous Knowledge Database Sharing and

Dissemination of IK Information (2007).

2. The Socratic Movement Edited by Paul A Vander.

3. Indigenous Knowledge Local Pathways to Global Development.

Marking Five Years of the world Bank Indigenous Knowledge for Development

Program 2004. Knowledge and Learning Group Africa Region. The World Bank.

4. Mosimege M (2005)Indigenous Knowledge Systems Unit Science and Technology

Expert Services Department of Science and Technology.