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Indilinga African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems

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ISSN (Print) 1683-0296
Published by Sabinet Online Ltd

[223 journals]

Gender inequality as a recurring theme in songs performed at a specific traditional and ritual ceremony in Zwelibomvu
- Abstract: Author: Zondi, Nompumelelo Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 194-205 Abstract: This article presents material about Zulu umemulo (girl's coming-of-age ritual) songs. It focuses on songs that respond to an incident which took place about a decade ago in a traditional village of Zwelibomvu in the outskirts of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The lyrics serve as a case study of how new memulo songs and songs in other related genres emerge out of community-specific concerns. The article further examines the role of women in inadvertently perpetuating gender inequality in their societies amidst public landscape of South Africa which challenges gender oppression of any kind. This will be interrogated through an exploration of songs composed by older women but sung by young maidens on such ceremonies. The songs condemn a fiancée for infidelity to her fiancé. Such condemnation in this society is commonly levelled against women, where infidelity by men is tolerated. I argue that the root of this inequality lies in the patriarchal social practices where male power is viewed as natural. Women feel themselves obliged to side with the men of their families in such matters, and to inflict punishment on other women. Whilst identifying the injustice of such condemnation, I argue that song is a less damaging response to social deviance than violence.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
Indigenising the school curriculum : an alternative approach for ensuring relevance to the context
- Abstract: Author: Yishak, D. M. Gumbo, M. T. Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 179-193 Abstract: A relevant and functional curriculum is the vehicle that ensures the relevance of an education system. The lack of relevance of borrowed curricula has caused the education systems of developing countries to be in a state of perpetual crisis. Today, a plethora of curricula reform projects has been implemented in Africa - with little success. These reform activities have all suffered from a major, inherent structural defect: they have only changed the contents of the curriculum. As a result, the western cultural influences embedded in the foundations are still being transmitted to students, making curricular materials irrelevant and unrelated to the culture and philosophy of these students. This failure has compelled concerned and genuine scholars to seek an alternative approach to curriculum development and study. This article suggests an alternative approach to curriculum development known as "indigenisation"; this approach calls for the preparation of a curriculum that is rooted in indigenous foundations and theories, and in principles and ideas derived from indigenous culture.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
Qualitative evaluation of smallholder farmer decisions, support systems, knowledge and disease management tools
- Abstract: Author: Molefe, Thato Thamaga-Chitja, Joyce Yobo, Kwasi S. Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 160-178 Abstract: Rural South African smallholder farmers are deprived of knowledge, relying on eroded indigenous knowledge to support crop production. Modern technology can play a role in supporting production decisions and packaging knowledge so it is easily accessible to all levels of users. Information Communication Technologies, such as Decision Support Tools (DST) play an important role in systematic dissemination of information in agriculture, thus improving the quality of farmer decisions, especially in rural areas. These tools are constantly developed, improved and evaluated to assess their applicability and efficacy. The article is based on the study that aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a recently developed DST, with a disease management component, to enhance production decisions and crop-disease management, among organic and small-scale farmers. Due to resource-limitations of most smallholder farmers in South Africa, production practices, including disease control could be much improved, using indigenous-based, local knowledge about cultural methods of controlling crop diseases. A group of 15 extension officers and 12 researchers were purposively selected for the study because they play a major role in organising and disseminating information to the farmers. Participatory workshop sessions were conducted with groups, where tools were presented, explored and critiqued. The DST was found to have the potential to benefit both organic and smallholder farmers, the study recommends that government should support the development of agricultural DSTs, building on and improving eroded indigenous knowledge, to help farmers improve production and address problems with extension officers and within their resource means.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
Ubuntu as an architectonic capability
- Abstract: Author: Le Grange, Lesley Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 139-145 Abstract: In this article I discuss human capability theory, which posits that the combined capabilities of a nation's citizens might be a better indication of its quality of life than the crude measure of economic growth. Capabilities that pervade all other capabilities are referred to as architectonic capabilities. I argue that ubuntu might be viewed as an architectonic capability - that it pervades all capabilities and conveys the idea that our doing, being and becoming are dependent on others (humans and non-humans).
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
The Africanisation of academic development programs : a case study
- Abstract: Author: Higgs, Phillip Moeketsi, R. M. H. Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 146-159 Abstract: The question this article addresses is: what does the Africanisation of academic development programmes involve? In trying to answer this question, we shall discuss the African concepts of ubuntu and communality in relation to academic development programmes initiated as part of the Scholars Development Plan at the University of South Africa, in the College of Human Sciences.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
African customary laws and the new constitution of the post-apartheid South Africa : a case study of the African traditional marriage system and the civil union act of 2006
- Abstract: Author: Mekoa, Itumeleng Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 221-232 Abstract: This article was conceived within the framework of human rights for Lesbians and Gays as stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and its conflict with African Customary laws. The cornerstone of the new Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. The Bill of Rights also states that the state must respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights, (Constitution of RSA, 1996). In 2006 parliament passed a Civil Union Act regulate the same-sex marriages to allow people of the same sex to be married and put in par with heterosexual marriages. The Civil Union Act however has been seen to be in conflict with African Customary Law with regard to marriage. The purpose of this article within the broader study of Social Policy is to examine how some policies of the state can be seen to be in conflict with values of majority, within the society. In the case of this article, those of the African majority versus various rights of the minorities as guaranteed in the Constitution.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
Use of indigenous knowledge to determine weather patterns : a case study of women mussel harvesters at Kwangwanase in KwaZulu-Natal
- Abstract: Author: Jiyane, Glenrose V. Ngulube, Patrick Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 206-220 Abstract: Despite the prevalence and erratic nature of changes in weather patterns, these patterns are still difficult to determine. People in the agricultural sector, in particular, need to understand weather pattern changes because of the effects of these changes on their social and economic lives. Many agriculturalists, especially women harvesting mussels, do not apply correct harvesting methods and practices, and harvest during the wrong seasons of the year. Incorrect harvesting behaviour relates closely to a misinterpretation of weather patterns. Improved understanding of weather conditions and patterns would greatly assist women harvesters of seafood such as mussels to harvest correctly, and so prevent a depletion of the ocean's resources and help maintain its delicate ecosystem. This article explores indigenous knowledge techniques for understanding and interpreting weather patterns. Focus group discussions, interviews, observations and document analyses were used to collect data. The findings reveal that weather patterns are determined by the wind, the stars, cloud formation and birds and insects, to name but a few. Despite sophisticated 21st century methods of determining weather patterns, this article examines the importance of indigenous knowledge in determining and understanding weather patterns, and the effect of weather patterns on people such as farmers and those involved in ocean harvesting.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
Foreword
- Abstract: Author: Gqaleni, Nceba Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: v-viii Abstract: A decade has passed since the first publication of the African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) journal. This is a moment to pause and reflect on a tremendous contribution and map a way forward for the next decade. The editorial team and all contributors to this journal need to be congratulated for a job well done. This publication maps how indigenous (local) knowledge may contribute immensely to global development. Some argue that there may be no globalization without indigenous knowledge systems.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
To copyright dikoša tsa setšo or not : pondering the challenges
- Abstract: Author: Ratiba, Matome M. Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 233-244 Abstract: The article various ways of protecting cultural music are investigated. This is done by firstly presenting a brief outline of the issues forming the subject matter of the current litigation between Gallo and Sting. This is followed by a discussion of various initiatives, (be they suggested, proposed or otherwise) both territorially and in the international arena, which are geared towards preserving and protecting cultural property coupled with the determination of the efficacy thereof (in the case of territorial initiatives) and, where applicable, possible ways of enhancing it. In this feat, the article will touch on and address both the following aspects: (a) intangible cultural expression (music) in the context of intellectual property and copyright regimes; and (b) intangible cultural expression (music) in the context of indigenous traditional knowledge systems. Lastly, a brief review will be given of the progress with endeavours made by South Africa pertaining to the preservation and protection of cultural music.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
The importance of indigenous games : the selected cases of indigenous games in South Africa
- Abstract: Author: Bogopa, David L. Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 245-256 Abstract: Indigenous games in South Africa risk extinction. The threat is created by the fact that old people in South Africa do not have enough time to transfer their skills and knowledge of indigenous games to the younger generation. The focus of this article is on identifying some of the problem areas regarding indigenous games. An attempt has been made to identify some of the indigenous games played in Southern Africa with the view of showing how they were played. Perspectives from various people in southern Africa have been explored with the view of showing the importance of playing indigenous as well as problem areas. In the final analysis some solutions to the problem are being suggested as well as recommendations. The article concludes by providing an overview of the discussion and how the games may be salvaged from the ravages of time's inexorable march.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z
Indigenisation of high risk learning areas : a case for accounting
- Abstract: Author: Jordan, Mncedisi Vol 11 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 257-266 Abstract: Ideally, education should start from the known to the unknown. For an African child, this means that all learning areas (subjects) should build from their indigenous world life and cultural experience to the acquisition of 'new' knowledge in a methodical and correlated approach. Further, the so-called high risk learning areas, of which Accounting is one, should be introduced early in a learner's school life so that whatever home experience there is, lays the foundation for understanding 'foreign' concepts. In extolling the virtues of indigenization, this article logically adopts an ontological paradigm (life reality) as against an epistemology (theory of knowledge) and, worse still, an axiological pedestal (value-laden input). Finally a topic like this commends itself exclusively to a conversational presentation, rather than a rhetorical one best suited to philosophical treatises.
  PubDate: 2013-03-11T07:57:23Z