African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability

Alokwu Cyprian Obiora; Ezenwaji Emma Emeka

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12

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African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability

Alokwu Cyprian Obiora, Ezenwaji Emma Emeka

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 3, Issue 4)

Received: 24 May 2015 Accepted: 9 June 2015 Published: 25 June 2015

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Abstract

Observers in international political arena have brought to public knowledge the fact that environmentalism has gradually crept into international politics. This is because of the commonalities between environment and political economy. Governments at various levels, environmental policy makers, have therefore sought solutions from scientific, economic and political dimensions to address the problems while neglecting the important role indigenous knowledge system could play in this much needed synergy. After careful research of some related literatures, the paper emerged with the findings that non-inclusion of African indigenous knowledge in environmental discourse over the years was simply based on the assumption that scientific investigation and findings was the only authentic method and acceptable means of providing information/solution to myriad of problems of the environmental sustainability. It, therefore, strongly argues that solution to these problems particularly in Africa requires a multi and interdisciplinary approach and not just scientific inquiry. It calls attention to the fact that African indigenous knowledge system (which still remains untapped resource) could beuseful, in fostering the much needed culture of ecological responsibility. To achieve this, it recommends a new paradigm to environmental discourse where natural science integrates with African indigenous knowledge to achieve environmental sustainability.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12
Page(s)	88-96
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

International, Politics, African, Indigenous, Ecological

References

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Alokwu Cyprian Obiora, Ezenwaji Emma Emeka. (2015). African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 3(4), 88-96. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12

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Alokwu Cyprian Obiora; Ezenwaji Emma Emeka. African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2015, 3(4), 88-96. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12

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AMA Style

Alokwu Cyprian Obiora, Ezenwaji Emma Emeka. African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2015;3(4):88-96. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12,
  author = {Alokwu Cyprian Obiora and Ezenwaji Emma Emeka},
  title = {African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-96},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20150304.12},
  abstract = {Observers in international political arena have brought to public knowledge the fact that environmentalism has gradually crept into international politics. This is because of the commonalities between environment and political economy. Governments at various levels, environmental policy makers, have therefore sought solutions from scientific, economic and political dimensions to address the problems while neglecting the important role indigenous knowledge system could play in this much needed synergy. After careful research of some related literatures, the paper emerged with the findings that non-inclusion of African indigenous knowledge in environmental discourse over the years was simply based on the assumption that scientific investigation and findings was the only authentic method and acceptable means of providing information/solution to myriad of problems of the environmental sustainability. It, therefore, strongly argues that solution to these problems particularly in Africa requires a multi and interdisciplinary approach and not just scientific inquiry. It calls attention to the fact that African indigenous knowledge system (which still remains untapped resource) could beuseful, in fostering the much needed culture of ecological responsibility. To achieve this, it recommends a new paradigm to environmental discourse where natural science integrates with African indigenous knowledge to achieve environmental sustainability.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability
AU  - Alokwu Cyprian Obiora
AU  - Ezenwaji Emma Emeka
Y1  - 2015/06/25
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
SP  - 88
EP  - 96
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7536
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12
AB  - Observers in international political arena have brought to public knowledge the fact that environmentalism has gradually crept into international politics. This is because of the commonalities between environment and political economy. Governments at various levels, environmental policy makers, have therefore sought solutions from scientific, economic and political dimensions to address the problems while neglecting the important role indigenous knowledge system could play in this much needed synergy. After careful research of some related literatures, the paper emerged with the findings that non-inclusion of African indigenous knowledge in environmental discourse over the years was simply based on the assumption that scientific investigation and findings was the only authentic method and acceptable means of providing information/solution to myriad of problems of the environmental sustainability. It, therefore, strongly argues that solution to these problems particularly in Africa requires a multi and interdisciplinary approach and not just scientific inquiry. It calls attention to the fact that African indigenous knowledge system (which still remains untapped resource) could beuseful, in fostering the much needed culture of ecological responsibility. To achieve this, it recommends a new paradigm to environmental discourse where natural science integrates with African indigenous knowledge to achieve environmental sustainability.
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Alokwu Cyprian Obiora

Department of Religion and Philosophy, Paul University, Awka, Nigeria
Ezenwaji Emma Emeka

Department of Geography and Meteorology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

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APA Style

Alokwu Cyprian Obiora, Ezenwaji Emma Emeka. (2015). African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 3(4), 88-96. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12

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ACS Style

Alokwu Cyprian Obiora; Ezenwaji Emma Emeka. African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2015, 3(4), 88-96. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12

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AMA Style

Alokwu Cyprian Obiora, Ezenwaji Emma Emeka. African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2015;3(4):88-96. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12,
  author = {Alokwu Cyprian Obiora and Ezenwaji Emma Emeka},
  title = {African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-96},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20150304.12},
  abstract = {Observers in international political arena have brought to public knowledge the fact that environmentalism has gradually crept into international politics. This is because of the commonalities between environment and political economy. Governments at various levels, environmental policy makers, have therefore sought solutions from scientific, economic and political dimensions to address the problems while neglecting the important role indigenous knowledge system could play in this much needed synergy. After careful research of some related literatures, the paper emerged with the findings that non-inclusion of African indigenous knowledge in environmental discourse over the years was simply based on the assumption that scientific investigation and findings was the only authentic method and acceptable means of providing information/solution to myriad of problems of the environmental sustainability. It, therefore, strongly argues that solution to these problems particularly in Africa requires a multi and interdisciplinary approach and not just scientific inquiry. It calls attention to the fact that African indigenous knowledge system (which still remains untapped resource) could beuseful, in fostering the much needed culture of ecological responsibility. To achieve this, it recommends a new paradigm to environmental discourse where natural science integrates with African indigenous knowledge to achieve environmental sustainability.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - African Indigenous Knowledge System and Environmental Sustainability
AU  - Alokwu Cyprian Obiora
AU  - Ezenwaji Emma Emeka
Y1  - 2015/06/25
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
SP  - 88
EP  - 96
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7536
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.12
AB  - Observers in international political arena have brought to public knowledge the fact that environmentalism has gradually crept into international politics. This is because of the commonalities between environment and political economy. Governments at various levels, environmental policy makers, have therefore sought solutions from scientific, economic and political dimensions to address the problems while neglecting the important role indigenous knowledge system could play in this much needed synergy. After careful research of some related literatures, the paper emerged with the findings that non-inclusion of African indigenous knowledge in environmental discourse over the years was simply based on the assumption that scientific investigation and findings was the only authentic method and acceptable means of providing information/solution to myriad of problems of the environmental sustainability. It, therefore, strongly argues that solution to these problems particularly in Africa requires a multi and interdisciplinary approach and not just scientific inquiry. It calls attention to the fact that African indigenous knowledge system (which still remains untapped resource) could beuseful, in fostering the much needed culture of ecological responsibility. To achieve this, it recommends a new paradigm to environmental discourse where natural science integrates with African indigenous knowledge to achieve environmental sustainability.
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download