Decolonization of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in South Africa: Impact of Policy and Protocols

Introduction

South Africa is one of the most diverse countries in the world and it is regarded as a rainbow nation to describe the unity of various cultural, racial or ethnic groups in the country. It is also regarded as a rich repository of knowledge referred to as indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is the traditional, cultural and community knowledge produced and owned by local people in their specific communities and passed on from one generation to the next generation, through practice and oral channels (Govender et al., 2013). In addition, Ngulube (2002) describes indigenous knowledge as mainly tacit and derived from local experiments, innovations, creativity and experiences, embedded in the minds and activities of communities with long histories of close interaction. This knowledge serves as the basis for problem solving, communication, teaching and decision-making in the indigenous communities where it is embedded (Furutnani et al., 2018). Indigenous knowledge has also been the basis for agriculture, education, health care and the wide range of other activities that sustain a society and its environment in many parts of the world for many centuries (Senanayake, 2006). Indigenist thinkers have advocated for the recovery and promotion of indigenous knowledge systems as important in decolonizing indigenous nations and their relationships governments, whether those strategies are applied to political systems, governance, health and wellness, education, or the environment (Churchill, 1996). This knowledge therefore needs to be safeguarded at all times and be decolonized for the benefit of indigenous communities (Sithole, 2007). Decolonization is recovery from colonial impact and restoration of indigenous people’s identities, languages and experiences (Datta, 2018). In this manner, indigenous communities can disentangle themselves from the oppressive control of colonizing state government through policy and decolonized strategies (Simpson, 2004). Denzin et al. (2008) further described decolonization as a continuous process of anti-colonial struggle that honors indigenous approaches to knowing the world, recognizing indigenous land, indigenous peoples and indigenous sovereignty.