Indigenous Knowledge Management Practices in Indigenous Organizations in South Africa and Tanzania

Knowledge Systems

The indigenous knowledge system, and the external knowledge, or scientific knowledge system are two widely acknowledged knowledge systems (Munyua & Stilwell, 2013). Aikenhead and Ogawa (2007) used a cultural base to distinguish three systems:

• 1.

  The largely oral, indigenous ways;

• 2.

  The neo-indigenous ways of knowing which predominate in Asia, are based on the region’s culture and history, and are documented; and

• 3.

  The Eurocentric way of knowing. This chapter focuses on the indigenous knowledge system and to some extent on the external knowledge system.

External knowledge, referred to as scientific, western, or global knowledge is generated through research and educational networks. It may be explicit and recorded in publications or may be tacit and stored in the heads of scientists or professionals (Wiig, 1999). It is open in the sense of being accessible, systematic, and objective; and grows by building on earlier accomplishments (Agrawal, 2004).

Local knowledge is also recognized as scientific (Guthiga, 2010). Munyua and Stilwell (2013) summarise differences between local knowledge and external knowledge:

• 1.

  They stem from different epistemological backgrounds;

• 2.

  Their histories differ;

• 3.

  They show variations in characteristics and subject matter;

• 4.

  Traditional knowledge focuses more on the local environment (Agrawal, 2004), and

• 5.

  Natural conditions shape the development of local knowledge, whereas change in external knowledge occurs through human intervention (Saway, 2004). In addition, external knowledge is global as opposed to local knowledge, which is more confined in scope (Mercer, Kelman, Taranis, & Suchet-Pearson, 2010).