The Future of Yoruba Indigeneous Knowledge: Acquisition, Preservation and Transmission

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue V, May 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Future of Yoruba Indigeneous Knowledge: Acquisition, Preservation and Transmission

Alarape, A. A. Ph.D¹, Obadiora, A. J. Ph.D², Omoba, F. A. Ph.D^3
1Department of Educational Technology and Library Studies Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
²Department of Arts and Social Science Education Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
³Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

ABSTRACT
This study investigates Yoruba Indigenous knowledge (IK) mode of acquisition, storage access, transmission and identify the revitalizing role of knowledge management (KM) principles on preservation of Yoruba indigenous knowledge. This research project is anchored in Smith ‘s (1999) anti-colonial and African/Black feminist research methodologies because researchers are allowed to effectively engage the research objectives and the research questions. Face-to-face interviews were primary source of data. Researchers interviewed a diverse group of custodians of Yoruba IK and at least one of their children. While 8 participants agreed to participate in this research, in the end there were five custodians of different Yoruba IK that were separately interviewed. Each interview session lapses between 45-60 minutes and was digitally recorded and took place in person. Findings from research shows that Yoruba indigenous knowledge finds application and relevance in all spheres of human endeavor ranging from indigenous knowledge in medicine, crafts, bids making, manufacturing, drums making, drum playing, technology to manufacturing. The paper concluded that KM principles when applied to Yoruba IK could help to revitalize it and make it accessible to whosoever is interested in them. The research recommends that efforts and policy should be in place to compensate and protect the interest of the authors and ownership of Yoruba IK who are willing to decentralize their knowledge to encourage them to part with such IK.

INTRODUCTION

The Yorubas are people whose major homeland is Southwestern Nigeria as one of the major ethnic groups in Africa. They have a history of highly sophisticated sociocultural and political systems. Like other ethnic groups in Africa, the Yorubas have an impressive system of indigenous Knowledge (IK). Indigenous knowledge (IK) is defined as a unique cumulative body of knowledge generated and evolved over time and possessed by people belonging to a particular geographic area enabling them to benefit from their natural resources (Guchteneire, Krukkert & Liebenstein, 1999; Kaniki & Mphahlele, 2002; Sen, 2005). IK is unique to a particular geographic location and is passed down from generation to generation. IK can be differentiated from Western scientific or modern knowledge in that the latter is developed and generated by research institutions, universities and private businesses (Agrawal, 1995; Kaniki & Mphahlele, 2002).
Indigenous Knowledge is developed outside the formal education system, it does not necessarily operate within formal organisations and is mainly transferred by word of mouth (Guchteneire, Krukkert & Liebenstein, 1999; Kaniki & Mphahlele, 2002), practice, observation and indoctrination. Indigenous knowledge has been defined as a cumulative body of knowledge generated and evolved over time, representing generations of creative thought and actions within individual societies in an ecosystem of continuous residence, in an effort to cope with an ever- changing agro-ecological and socio-economic environment. Terms like “traditional”, “local”, “community” and “rural people’s knowledge” are used interchangeably with IK. Tharakan (2017) submitted that IK is the sum total of knowledge and skills possessed by people belonging to a particular geographic area,

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