Challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Although TEK has been marginalised during colonial and apartheid era, over the past four decades, there has been a proliferation of research on TEK at local, regional and international levels. This is because, among other reasons, TEK provides multiple benefits to the bearers of such knowledge and c...
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124002249 |
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| author | Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule |
| author_facet | Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule |
| author_sort | Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although TEK has been marginalised during colonial and apartheid era, over the past four decades, there has been a proliferation of research on TEK at local, regional and international levels. This is because, among other reasons, TEK provides multiple benefits to the bearers of such knowledge and contributes to the protection of the environment and ecosystem services. Despite this knowledge being important both for human and non-human environments, it faces several challenges among contemporary indigenous societies. Using the concept of power as a lens, this study aimed to investigate the challenges facing TEK using the Vhembe district in Limpopo Province (South Africa) as a case study. The study relied on semi-structured face-to-face interviews with local people. This method was found to be appropriate since it is flexible and allow for wide range of opinions that exceed the limits imposed by interview schedule. Key selected respondents included custodians of sacred sites, traditional leaders, bearers of TEK, educators, scholars dealing with TEK, curriculum experts, local pastors, and Christians. These respondents were selected using stratified purposeful sampling approach. A thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data obtained from the interviews. The study found that the cause of TEK system degradation is a complicated and multidisciplinary problem, including the compounding influences of dominant religions, formal education, new political dispensation, modernisation and advances in science and technology, as well as commercialisation. Recommendations for improving TEK management practices are drawn up based on these results. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5916b29a93f64c5383cde048f79fe7eb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-5916b29a93f64c5383cde048f79fe7eb2024-11-21T06:05:49ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112024-01-0110101027Challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South AfricaNdidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule0Corresponding author. P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; University of Johannesburg, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, South AfricaAlthough TEK has been marginalised during colonial and apartheid era, over the past four decades, there has been a proliferation of research on TEK at local, regional and international levels. This is because, among other reasons, TEK provides multiple benefits to the bearers of such knowledge and contributes to the protection of the environment and ecosystem services. Despite this knowledge being important both for human and non-human environments, it faces several challenges among contemporary indigenous societies. Using the concept of power as a lens, this study aimed to investigate the challenges facing TEK using the Vhembe district in Limpopo Province (South Africa) as a case study. The study relied on semi-structured face-to-face interviews with local people. This method was found to be appropriate since it is flexible and allow for wide range of opinions that exceed the limits imposed by interview schedule. Key selected respondents included custodians of sacred sites, traditional leaders, bearers of TEK, educators, scholars dealing with TEK, curriculum experts, local pastors, and Christians. These respondents were selected using stratified purposeful sampling approach. A thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data obtained from the interviews. The study found that the cause of TEK system degradation is a complicated and multidisciplinary problem, including the compounding influences of dominant religions, formal education, new political dispensation, modernisation and advances in science and technology, as well as commercialisation. Recommendations for improving TEK management practices are drawn up based on these results.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124002249Sacred natural sitesReligionIndigenous knowledgeBiodiversity conservationChristianity |
| spellingShingle | Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule Challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa Social Sciences and Humanities Open Sacred natural sites Religion Indigenous knowledge Biodiversity conservation Christianity |
| title | Challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_full | Challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_short | Challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_sort | challenges facing traditional ecological knowledge in the vhembe district municipality in limpopo province south africa |
| topic | Sacred natural sites Religion Indigenous knowledge Biodiversity conservation Christianity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124002249 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ndidzulafhiinnocentsinthumule challengesfacingtraditionalecologicalknowledgeinthevhembedistrictmunicipalityinlimpopoprovincesouthafrica |