“In creating a shift from the reliance on the Western knowledge systems to the indigenous knowledge systems, we have to start from what we do not have”, according to Dr Gada Kadoda, a CSET Visiting African Scholar from Sudan. She was addressing the Unisa community during the 2010 CSET African Scholar Programme held at the Dr Miriam Makeba Concert Hall on Tuesday 13 April 2010.
Her paper was entitled “Conceptual and methodological pluralism: the quest for appropriate solutions”. Dr Gada Kadoda is a computer scientist, an independent researcher and a collaborating lecturer from the University of Khartoum and the University of Kassala in Sudan.
Prof Mamokgethi Setati, Executive Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, chaired the proceedings for the day. In her introduction, she elaborated on Dr Kadoda’s extensive involvement in community engagement projects, such as the Barefeet Project and the International Network I Appropriate Technology (INAT) Project.
Dr Kadoda explained that since there are no indigenous knowledge systems theories that are written down to be used for research purposes, there is a need to strengthen the process of studying indigenous knowledge systems to the level of theory development, as this will help build credibility of our indigenous knowledge systems. “The stream of health began with that a long time ago and chemistry followed suit. Our indigenous herbs are used by medical practitioners,” she said. She added that engineering is slowly picking up. She said that some of the herbs were taken along time ago and patented for profit.
She said she visited Barbados in 2003/2004 to observe and learn more about the indigenous methods used by the inspectors in that country to drain water when there are floods. “Those people have extensive experience in draining storm water, but it is not written down. It has been passed on from generation to generation but was never documented,” she said. She said that she observed how they evaluate their systems. She added that it remains essential that we go to universities to study. “We need to develop our skills from universities to be able to Africanise our knowledge systems.”
In her response to Dr Kadoda, Prof Catherine Odora-Hoppers argued that 70% of our population functions with indigenous knowledge and yet they are being ignored. She added that there is a tendency for researchers to continue with their work without problematising the context in which they conduct their research. She advised attendants to study the preamble of the UNESCO declarations on science and the use of scientific knowledge, which foregrounds the benefits and applications of scientific advances, and the development and expansion of human activity which, unfortunately, have also led to environmental degradation and technological disasters, and have contributed to social imbalances or exclusion.
The second respondent, Prof Judy van Biljon, who is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing, indicated that there is a need to ensure that we have a strong knowledge base when dealing with social issues that relate to science. She agreed with Dr Kadoda that the rewards in the higher education system are unfortunately skewed towards research productivity without much consideration for community engagement. It is therefore important for academics to create a balance in the work they do.
Dr Kadoda concluded by saying the Western knowledge theories must co-exist with indigenous knowledge systems. This is putting an African context in any field of specialisation or study.
