Indigenous Entrepreneurship, Livelihoods and Community Economies: Reimagining Sustainable Development Through Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Africa and Zimbabwe

Indigenous entrepreneurship has emerged as a critical pathway for advancing sustainable livelihoods, strengthening community economies, and promoting inclusive development in Africa. Unlike conventional entrepreneurship, which prioritizes profit maximization, indigenous entrepreneurship is embedded within Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), cultural values, communal well-being, and environmental stewardship. This paper examined the interrelationship between indigenous entrepreneurship, livelihoods, and community economies, with particular focus on Africa and Zimbabwe. Drawing on contemporary literature (2024–2026), the study adopts a qualitative desktop research approach and synthesizes evidence from academic and policy sources. The paper argued that indigenous entrepreneurship contributes to livelihood resilience, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic transformation. It further proposes the Indigenous Entrepreneurship–Livelihood–Community Economy Framework (IELCEF) as an integrated model for understanding indigenous economic systems. The study concluded that strengthening indigenous entrepreneurship through education, policy reform, digital inclusion, and knowledge protection is essential for achieving sustainable development in Africa.

Indigenous entrepreneurship, livelihoods, community economies, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, sustainability, Zimbabwe, Education 5.0

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