Dissemination of indigenous knowledge by traditional leaders in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe
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Authors
Nhambura, Constance
Issue Date
2021-06
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Indigenous knowledge , Knowledge acquisition , Tacit knowledge , Explicit knowledge , Knowledge preservation , Knowledge dissemination , Traditional leaders , Community , Indigenous knowledge holders
Alternative Title
Abstract
Zimbabwe is one of the African countries that are rich in heritage and indigenous knowledge (IK), yet the utilisation of the indigenous knowledge is declining, which may result in its disappearance and inaccessibility by future generations. The threatened disappearance of indigenous knowledge in Zimbabwe is a result of ineffective dissemination procedures by the custodians. The motivation for this study was a result of the purported loss of indigenous knowledge and how future generations are likely to lose their social values if there are no mechanisms to disseminate the knowledge. An organisational knowledge conversion theory was used in this qualitative study to investigate the dissemination of indigenous knowledge by traditional leaders in the Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe. The theory was used with a view to developing a framework that can guide the dissemination of indigenous knowledge by traditional leaders in the Mashonaland East Province. A hermeneutic phenomenology design and purposive sampling were employed to extract the views and perceptions of the traditional leaders and villagers on the dissemination of indigenous knowledge by the traditional leaders in their community. Data was collected through interviews, observations, and document reviews and was analysed and interpreted thematically in line with the study objectives. The study established that not all indigenous knowledge is disappearing in the community. While some indigenous practices like observance of taboos and respect for sacred resources have been denigrated, other practices in farming, health, environmental conservation, and culture are still being followed. However, it was noted that although indigenous knowledge is under threat and underutilised, not all the indigenous people have been eroded by foreign religious practices and modernity. The study established a number of constraints in the dissemination of indigenous knowledge and proposed a number of strategies to improve indigenous knowledge dissemination. The study recommended the development and implementation of policies and programmes that support the generation and dissemination of IK in Zimbabwe among others.