Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5(9), pp. 776 - 780
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050909
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Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge through Scientific Research is Fundamental to Sustainable Development: An Anthropological Perspective

Senait Bahta ^*
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, Adi- Keih College of Arts and Social Sciences, Eritrea

ABSTRACT

Human societies generate knowledge and strategies enabling them to survive in balanced relations with their natural and social environments. All societies thus, have their own indigenous knowledge systems originated from life’s experiences. This indigenous knowledge gives each society an identity. They are adaptive and enable them survive. They have survival value for the specific society because they were originated to serve the needs of the group and give them power to participate in decisions for their livelihood to sustain. Indeed, they are the ‘genetic material’ for development. Patman [1] writes, “There is a long tradition in Africa of reaching decision by unanimous consent – minority voices given a fair hearing….” Cheikh Anta Diop [2] emphasizes the need to build African human sciences, while Foucault [3] suggests, “There is a gap to feel by discovering the ‘Archaeology of knowledge’”. The researcher argues that, promotion of indigenous knowledge is fundamental to sustainable development, for, knowledge generated from local peoples’ life experiences agree to the law of the land and sustains their daily life. As sustainable development is community centered, it can be rational through scientific research of traditions that successfully solved local socio-economic and political conditions. Formalizing the local knowledge system into the national curriculum so as to transmit it to the new generation will also result in enhanced identity and a better standard of living.

KEYWORDS
Indigenous Knowledge, Identity, Adaptive

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Senait Bahta , "Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge through Scientific Research is Fundamental to Sustainable Development: An Anthropological Perspective," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 5, No. 9, pp. 776 - 780, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050909.

(b). APA Format:
Senait Bahta (2017). Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge through Scientific Research is Fundamental to Sustainable Development: An Anthropological Perspective. Sociology and Anthropology, 5(9), 776 - 780. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050909.