Africa Development
by CODESRIA
openjournathemelogo
Quick jump to page content
  • Main Navigation
  • Main Content
  • Sidebar

Africa Development
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Announcements
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • Submissions
    • Editorial Team
    • Privacy Statement
    • Contact
  • Register
  • Login
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Announcements
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • Submissions
    • Editorial Team
    • Privacy Statement
    • Contact
  1. Home
  2. Archives
  3. Vol. 30 No. 3 (2005): Africa Development: Special Issue 'All knowledge is first of all local knowledge'
  4. Articles

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 3 (2005): Africa Development: Special Issue 'All knowledge is first of all local knowledge'

Issue Published : January 28, 2022

1 - All Knowledge Is first of all Local Knowledge: An Introduction

DOI: 10.4314/ad.v30i3.22226
https://doi.org/10.4314/ad.v30i3.22226
Chukwudi Anthony Njoku
René Devisch

Africa Development, Vol. 30 No. 3 (2005): Africa Development: Special Issue 'All knowledge is first of all local knowledge'
Article Published : January 1, 2005

Share
WA Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pinterest Email Telegram
  • Abstract
  • Cite
  • References
  • Authors Details

Abstract

Against a monolithic view of knowledge production and the tendency to universalize science, this article calls attention to the unique genius and distinctive creativity and originality which underlines production of knowledge in any given cultural context. It takes seriously, the fact that, at its roots, knowledge production is context bound. Hence the authors emphasize the fact that all knowledge is first of all local knowledge. From this fundamental understanding of the true wellsprings of the production of knowledge, it argues against a mythic veil, which reformist modernity, especially, tended to place on the process of producing and transmitting knowledge. This deceptive myth about knowledge production, it opines, has had the negative impact of stereotyping, blackmailing, inferiorizing and derailing the production and sharing of knowledge and its artefacts in cultures other than the West. The colonial encounter, with its assumptions and presumptions, helped to rub in this vision of reformist modernity and to muffle the voices of colonised cultures. Hence such labels as 'indigenous' knowledge. In recognition, therefore, of the creative and genuine originality latent in every culture, this article seeks to empower cultures to realise, work on and appropriate the riches embedded in their own local knowledge tracts and trajectories. This appropriation by cultures, of their own rich genius, is, for the authors, the gateway to re-acquiring cultural dignity and self-confidence and indeed an opportunity for each cultural node to positively contribute to the commonwealth of world knowledge. Such variegated approach to mining the wisdom and ecological advantages of various cultural groups will enhance the sharing of knowledge in a spirit of both vertical and horizontal border-linking exchanges of riches found in different cultural contexts and knowledge fields. The ancient wisdom of the Igbo of south eastern Nigeria is used in the article as an illustration of this latent, culture specific genius. The article also highlights the mission of Whelan Research Academy for Religion, Culture and Society, Owerri, Nigeria, in creating awareness, space and forum for paying closer attention to indigenous knowledge tracts endangered in this derailment of a wider spectrum of cultural nodes of knowledge.

Full Article

Generated from XML file
[1]
Njoku, C.A. and Devisch, R. 2005. 1 - All Knowledge Is first of all Local Knowledge: An Introduction: DOI: 10.4314/ad.v30i3.22226. Africa Development. 30, 3 (Jan. 2005). DOI:https://doi.org/10.4314/ad.v30i3.22226.
  • ACS
  • APA
  • ABNT
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • MLA
  • Turabian
  • Vancouver
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. A.chebe, Chinua, 1958, ·Things Fa// Apart, London: Heinemann.
  2. Ajayi J., L. Gama and G. Johnson, 1996, The African Experience with Higher
  3. Education, London: James and Currey.
  4. Appiah K.A., 1992, ln My Father s House: Africain the Philosophy a/Culture,
  5. New York: Oxford University Press.
  6. Ashby E., 1964, African Universities and Western Tradition, New York: Alfred Knopf.
  7. Ashcroft B., G. Griffiths & H. H. Tiffin, eds, 1989, The Empire Writes Back,
  8. London: Routledgi
  9. ates R., V. Mudimbe & J. O'Barr, (eds), 1993, Africa and the Disciplines: The Contributions of Research in Africa to the Social Sciences and Humanities,
  10. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  11. Bemal M., 1990, Black Athena: The Afroasiatic Roofs of Classical Civilization
  12. II, London: Free Association Books.
  13. Bhengu M., 1996, Ubuntu: The Essence of Democracy, Cape Town: Novalis. Crossman, P., 1999,
  14. Endogenisation and African Universities: Initiatives and
  15. Issues in the Quest for Plurality in the Human Sciences, (Policy study on development
  16. co-operation), Brussels: BelgianAdministration for Development Co-operation.
  17. Crossman, P., & R. Devisch, 2002, 'Endogenous Knowledge: AnAnthropological Perspective', in: C.
  18. Odora-Hoppers, O.c.: 96-125.
  19. Devisch, R., 2001, Cultures, Sciences and Endogenous Knowledge Practices:
  20. Sorne Anthropological Perspectives, in: Science and Tradition: Roots and Wings for Development,
  21. Brussels: Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences & UNESCO: 29-53.
  22. Diop C.A., 1954, Nations nègres et culture, Paris: Présence africaine.
  23. Ela, J.M., 1994, Restituer l'histoire aux sociétés africaines: promouvoir les sciences sociales en
  24. Afrique noire, Paris: Harmattan.
  25. Eze, E.C., ed., 1997, Postcolonial African Philosophy: A Critical Reader, Oxford: Blackwell.
  26. Gamba, H., 2003, 'Explorations inAnimist Materialism: Notes on Reading/Writing African literature,
  27. culture and society', Public culture 15(2):261-286.
  28. Gerdes P., 1999, Geometry from Africa: Mathematical and Educational Explorations, Washington: The
  29. Mathematical Association of America.
  30. Guyer, J., 1996, 'Traditions of Invention in Equatorial Africa', African Studies Review 39:1-28.
  31. Gyekye, K., 1997, Tradition and Modernity: Philosophical Reflections on the African Experience,
  32. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  33. Hountondji, P., ed., 1994, Les Savoirs endogènes: pistes pour une recherche,
  34. Paris: Karthala.
  35. Hountondji, P., 1995, 'Producing knowledge in Africa today' (M.K.O. Abiola distinguished lecture),
  36. African Studies Review 38(3):1-1O.
  37. Janzen, John, 1989, 'Health, Religion and Medicine in Central and Southern African Traditions', in:
  38. L. Sulliban, ed., Healing and Restoring: Health and Medicine in the World's Religious Traditions,
  39. New York: MacMillan.
  40. Ki-Zerbo, J., ed., 1990, Educate or Perish: Africa's Impasse and Prospects, Dakar: UNESCO-UNICEF.
  41. Lichtenberg-Ettinger, 2004, 'Weaving a Woman Artist with-in the Matrixial Encounter-event, Theory',
  42. Culture & Society 21:61-94.
  43. 1asolo, D., 1994, African Philosophy in Search of Identity, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  44. Mazrui A., 1992, 'Towards Diagnosing and Treating Cultural Dependency: Th
  45. Case of the African University', International Journal of Educational
  46. Development 12:95-111.
  47. Mazrui A., 1978, Political Values and the Educated Class in Africa, London: Heinemann.
  48. Mazrui A., 1992, 'Towards Diagnosing and Treating Cultural Dependency: The Case of the African
  49. University', International Journal of Educational Development 12:95-111.
  50. Mbembe A., 2002a, 'African Modes of Self-writing', Public Culture 14(2):239- 273.
  51. Mbembe A., 2002b, 'On the Power of the False', Public Culture 14(3):629-641.
  52. Mudimbe V., 1988, The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy, and the Order of Knowledge,
  53. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  54. Ndaw, A., 1997, La pensée africaine: recherches sur les fondements de la pensée négro-africaine,
  55. Dakar: Les nouvelles éditions africaines du Sénégal.
  56. Ngugi wa Thiong'o, 1986, Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature,
  57. London: James Currey.
  58. Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, 1996, 'The Allegory of the Cave: Language, Democracy and a New World Order',
  59. Black Renaissance/Renaissance noire 1(3)
  60. Odora-Hoppers, C., ed., 2002, Towards a Philosophy of Articulation: IKS and the Integration of
  61. Knowledge Systems, Cape Town: New Africa Education Publisher.
  62. Odhiambo E., 2002, 'The cultural dimensions of development in Africa' (M.K.O.
  63. Abiola distingui hed lecture), African studies review 45(3):1-16.
  64. Ramose, B.R., 1999, African Philosophy through Ubuntu, Harare: Mond Books Publishers.
  65. Sogolo, G., 1993, Foundations of African Philosophy, Ibadan: Ibadan University
  66. Press.
  67. van Binsbergen, W., 2003, Intercultural Encounters: African andAnthropological Lessons towards a
  68. Philosophy of Interculturality, Münster: Lit Verlag.
  69. van Rinsum, H., 2002, 'Wipe the Blackboard Clean: Academization and Christianization', African
  70. Studies Review 45/2:27-48.
  71. Wiredu K., 1996, Cultural Universals and Particulars: An African Perspective,Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  72. Yesufu, T., ed., 1973, Creating the African University: Emerging Issues in the [970s, Ibadan: Oxford University Press.
Read More

References


A.chebe, Chinua, 1958, ·Things Fa// Apart, London: Heinemann.

Ajayi J., L. Gama and G. Johnson, 1996, The African Experience with Higher

Education, London: James and Currey.

Appiah K.A., 1992, ln My Father s House: Africain the Philosophy a/Culture,

New York: Oxford University Press.

Ashby E., 1964, African Universities and Western Tradition, New York: Alfred Knopf.

Ashcroft B., G. Griffiths & H. H. Tiffin, eds, 1989, The Empire Writes Back,

London: Routledgi

ates R., V. Mudimbe & J. O'Barr, (eds), 1993, Africa and the Disciplines: The Contributions of Research in Africa to the Social Sciences and Humanities,

Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Bemal M., 1990, Black Athena: The Afroasiatic Roofs of Classical Civilization

II, London: Free Association Books.

Bhengu M., 1996, Ubuntu: The Essence of Democracy, Cape Town: Novalis. Crossman, P., 1999,

Endogenisation and African Universities: Initiatives and

Issues in the Quest for Plurality in the Human Sciences, (Policy study on development

co-operation), Brussels: BelgianAdministration for Development Co-operation.

Crossman, P., & R. Devisch, 2002, 'Endogenous Knowledge: AnAnthropological Perspective', in: C.

Odora-Hoppers, O.c.: 96-125.

Devisch, R., 2001, Cultures, Sciences and Endogenous Knowledge Practices:

Sorne Anthropological Perspectives, in: Science and Tradition: Roots and Wings for Development,

Brussels: Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences & UNESCO: 29-53.

Diop C.A., 1954, Nations nègres et culture, Paris: Présence africaine.

Ela, J.M., 1994, Restituer l'histoire aux sociétés africaines: promouvoir les sciences sociales en

Afrique noire, Paris: Harmattan.

Eze, E.C., ed., 1997, Postcolonial African Philosophy: A Critical Reader, Oxford: Blackwell.

Gamba, H., 2003, 'Explorations inAnimist Materialism: Notes on Reading/Writing African literature,

culture and society', Public culture 15(2):261-286.

Gerdes P., 1999, Geometry from Africa: Mathematical and Educational Explorations, Washington: The

Mathematical Association of America.

Guyer, J., 1996, 'Traditions of Invention in Equatorial Africa', African Studies Review 39:1-28.

Gyekye, K., 1997, Tradition and Modernity: Philosophical Reflections on the African Experience,

Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Hountondji, P., ed., 1994, Les Savoirs endogènes: pistes pour une recherche,

Paris: Karthala.

Hountondji, P., 1995, 'Producing knowledge in Africa today' (M.K.O. Abiola distinguished lecture),

African Studies Review 38(3):1-1O.

Janzen, John, 1989, 'Health, Religion and Medicine in Central and Southern African Traditions', in:

L. Sulliban, ed., Healing and Restoring: Health and Medicine in the World's Religious Traditions,

New York: MacMillan.

Ki-Zerbo, J., ed., 1990, Educate or Perish: Africa's Impasse and Prospects, Dakar: UNESCO-UNICEF.

Lichtenberg-Ettinger, 2004, 'Weaving a Woman Artist with-in the Matrixial Encounter-event, Theory',

Culture & Society 21:61-94.

1asolo, D., 1994, African Philosophy in Search of Identity, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Mazrui A., 1992, 'Towards Diagnosing and Treating Cultural Dependency: Th

Case of the African University', International Journal of Educational

Development 12:95-111.

Mazrui A., 1978, Political Values and the Educated Class in Africa, London: Heinemann.

Mazrui A., 1992, 'Towards Diagnosing and Treating Cultural Dependency: The Case of the African

University', International Journal of Educational Development 12:95-111.

Mbembe A., 2002a, 'African Modes of Self-writing', Public Culture 14(2):239- 273.

Mbembe A., 2002b, 'On the Power of the False', Public Culture 14(3):629-641.

Mudimbe V., 1988, The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy, and the Order of Knowledge,

Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Ndaw, A., 1997, La pensée africaine: recherches sur les fondements de la pensée négro-africaine,

Dakar: Les nouvelles éditions africaines du Sénégal.

Ngugi wa Thiong'o, 1986, Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature,

London: James Currey.

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, 1996, 'The Allegory of the Cave: Language, Democracy and a New World Order',

Black Renaissance/Renaissance noire 1(3)

Odora-Hoppers, C., ed., 2002, Towards a Philosophy of Articulation: IKS and the Integration of

Knowledge Systems, Cape Town: New Africa Education Publisher.

Odhiambo E., 2002, 'The cultural dimensions of development in Africa' (M.K.O.

Abiola distingui hed lecture), African studies review 45(3):1-16.

Ramose, B.R., 1999, African Philosophy through Ubuntu, Harare: Mond Books Publishers.

Sogolo, G., 1993, Foundations of African Philosophy, Ibadan: Ibadan University

Press.

van Binsbergen, W., 2003, Intercultural Encounters: African andAnthropological Lessons towards a

Philosophy of Interculturality, Münster: Lit Verlag.

van Rinsum, H., 2002, 'Wipe the Blackboard Clean: Academization and Christianization', African

Studies Review 45/2:27-48.

Wiredu K., 1996, Cultural Universals and Particulars: An African Perspective,Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Yesufu, T., ed., 1973, Creating the African University: Emerging Issues in the [970s, Ibadan: Oxford University Press.

Author biographies is not available.
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 331 Download : 110

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Table Of Contents

Make a Submission

Make a Submission

Language

  • English
  • Français (France)

Information

  • For Readers
  • For Authors
  • For Librarians

Africa Development

 

Providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among African scholars from a variety of intellectual persuasions and various disciplines.
ISSN :  0850-3907

Make Submission

Our Editorial Team

Godwin Rapando Murunga
Editor-in-Chief
CODESRIA Executive Secretary
sA-3XlIAAAAJ
 
Read More
 
Editorial Pick

Towards Understanding the Cameroon-Nigeria and the Eswatini-South African Border Dispute through the Prism of the Principle of uti possidetis juris Customary International Law

December 25, 2022
Hlengiwe Portia Dlamini et al.

Enjeux de la pédagogie contrastée de l’histoire dans les sous-systèmes anglophone et francophone pour les politiques mémorielles au Cameroun

November 29, 2022
Nadeige Ngo Nlend et al.

Modernisation minière, fragmentation sociale et création des anormaux en République démocratique du Congo

May 19, 2022
Emery Mushagalusa Mudinga et al.

Localising the SDGs in African Cities: A Grounded Methodology

November 19, 2022
Omar Nagati et al.

‘Ghanaian first’: Nationality, Race and the Slippery Side of Belonging for Mixed-Race Ghanaians

June 11, 2022
Karine Geoffrion et al.

Les facteurs historiques de la demande en tissus identitaires au Nigeria et en Inde,

February 25, 2022
Jocelyne Boussari et al.

The Impact of Agricultural Extension Service on the Uptake of Various Agricultural Technologies in Ethiopia

December 16, 2022
Mesfin Hiwot et al.

The Curse or Fertility of Land Clearing: How Migrant Labour Modified Gender-Based Division of Labour in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

November 12, 2022
Angelus Mnenuka et al.

Genre et cyber-radicalisation au Sénégal et au Mali

May 12, 2022
Selly Ba et al.

Rethinking the Pan-African Agenda: Africa, the African Diaspora and the Agenda for Liberation

November 19, 2022
Moses khisa

Author Resources

  •    Author Guidelines
  •     Download Manuscript Template
  •   Review Process

SCImago Journal & Country Rank

Most read articles by the same author(s)

  • René Devisch, 7 - Cultural Modes of Comprehending and Healing Insanity: The Yaka of DR Congo , Africa Development: Vol. 30 No. 3 (2005): Africa Development: Special Issue 'All knowledge is first of all local knowledge'

 Address

Publication and Dissemination Programme
1046 Av. Cheikh Anta Diop P.E 11, angle Canal IV
P.O Box: 3304 Dakar, 18524, Senegal

 OTHER LINKS

  • Become a member
  • Publish a book
  • Publish on our journals
  • Online Library Catalogue
  • Purchase a Book

  Contact Info

+221 33 825 98 22/23
publications@codesria.org

 Social Media

   
© 2023 CODESRIA
Themes by Openjournaltheme.com
Themes by Openjournaltheme.comhttps://journals.codesria.org/index.php/adThemes by Openjournaltheme.com