International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue I, January 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Relevance of African Indigenous Education in the Kenyan Society

John Kibwage Nyangaresi
Department of Educational Foundations, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P. O. BOX 190-50100, Kakamega

Abstract: The article examined the relevance of African indigenous education in the Kenyan society. The paper emphasized on the relevance of African indigenous education’s goals to the Kenyan Society, indigenous education’s modes of transmission and its nature. The study employed descriptive research design. The target populations of this research were families living in urban areas among the Kenyan towns. The study used probability sampling (objective sampling) systematic method was employed where the respondents were randomly selected to participate in the research. The study findings ascertained that African indigenous education is relevant it terms of closely, socially linked to the people 38.71%, and focused to responding to social needs 32.26%, continuously generated from the people 22.58% and its holistic nature 6.45%. On relevance to its goals 45.16% sail it produced holistic persons, 32.26% it inspired attainment of knowledge. Similarly 32.26% confirmed its achievement of quality education. Relevancy in relation to its modes of transmission language was supported by 41.94%, followed by music 40% then proverbs and myths 20% and finally oral traditions at 15%.

I. BACKGROUND

African Indigenous Education as an “original, regionally formed form of raising children by the society’s experienced and senior members (Eric, 2020). In summary, Indigenous African training can be described as a kind of education in African traditional cultures in which the tribe’s information, abilities, and perspectives were passed on from generation down the generations through verbal instruction and practical sessions.
According to the online education definition from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy by Hitchcock (2018), generally education is the act of teaching or gaining broad information, improving thinking and judgment abilities, and generally cognitively preparing oneself or others for adulthood. Indigenous education is concerned with the teaching of Indigenous knowledge (content), methods, techniques, and material in official and non-formal school environments. African indigenous education may be broadly characterized as a mode of learning in African traditional communities in which elders handed on knowledge, skills, and attitudes to youngsters through verbal instruction and practical exercises (Achi, 2021).
According to Mushi (2009), African indigenous schooling is the transmission of genetic data, talents, customary customs, norms, and expectations of the people from one generation to the next. Eric (2020), who agrees with the earlier assertion