Ethiopia has been applying Eurocentric knowledge across its political, social and economic spectrum, a trend which has had its fair share of ramification mainly due to incompatibility. And rethinking the neglected yet precious indigenous knowledge and challenging the imposed western values according to experts is a must to do and timely task.
The mental attitude to solely depend on Eurocentric values almost annihilates African indigenous knowledge production system.
However, according to experts, indigenous knowledge would rather resonate to the cultural and other internal aspects of the Continent. Ethiopia is no exception. Having enormous and unexploited potential, the country’s indigenous knowledge has increasingly been over the shadow of Eurocentric values for quite long time now.
Mainly misfit and unsynchronized, western values have arguably been less effective due to incompatibility and copy and paste trend.
These were the very facts reflected on the recently held discussion forum organized by the African Studies Professional Association. Western knowledge system isconsidered to be incomplete and often distorted when it comes to problematizing others’ phenomenon, says Biruk Shewadeg in his paper presentation entitled ‘Rethinking Knowledge Production in Africa:‘Afrocentric Epistemology’ as an Emancipatory Discourse’.
Biruk signals that the Western monopoly in knowledge production which unmasks the undeclared assumption that only the West is legitimate in producing and disseminating its produced knowledge.
“In fact, our modern education system has been problematic. It almost ignores indigenous knowledge while embracing Eurocentric values whose impact has been little.” Biruk tells The Ethiopian Herald in an exclusive interview.
“This does not mean western values are irrelevant but to completely abandon local values is irrational. These knowledge is approached and applied are compatible with local contexts”. The fact that the country had not been colonized enables the country to preserve its indigenous knowledge but new version of mental colonization has barred the country to exploit its potential.
“One of the greatest mistakes was to fully discredit local values and revolutionize it with western ones.” “It is time to challenge the western imposed values; in fact it behooves us to enrich them with Ethiopian ones.
There are Ethiopian values almost in all sectors but need through study. We just cannot label our values as backward without examining them. It would be absurd judgment to do so.”
“We need to move to a more Afrocentric epistemology whose ultimate aim is to liberate. Afrocentric knowledge production system generates a knowledge that will free and empower the Africans in the course of mental decolonization.” That it is an alternative, nonexclusionary, and non-hegemonic system of knowledge based up on the African experience.
Scholars shoulder the biggest slice of responsibility in bringing the values into the spotlight and enriching them with improved application ways. The main fault line rests on countries ability to synchronize the western adopted values with their indigenous one, states Fisha Moreda who also presented a paper in rethinking peace in Africa.
Adding, he said that the copy and paste trend brought almost the unique values to their knees. The methodology and application was also incompatible with local contexts. There is this ill-perception that western values are justified and all fit is wrong. Indigenous knowledge particularly conflict management systems are unfairly treated and labeled as backward.
“Unlike the negative perception, we saw Afrocentric values making difference in restoring peace and fostering reconciliation as it is the case in South Africa and Rwanda. Ethiopia is also home to democratic and effective conflict managements systems.”
It proves null to carbon copy western values without properly examining Ethiopian values. Indigenous knowledge if utilized correctly would make a better alternative in all aspects particularly in ensuring peace and building internal cohesion.
“We need to bring the values from the dust and reassess them.” Now that prescribing western values to internal issues proves unfit and less effective, it requires the country to go back to the drawing board and try to integrate local values with the social system.
There have been little attempt to study the indigenous knowledge of the country. Books are published particularly in alternative justice system. But the main duty lies on the shoulder of universities and state tourism bureaus to explore the potential of different communities, Alemayew Getachew Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport Common Cultural Values Development Director.
Indigenous knowledge particularly conflict management systems are more lasting and cost effective. That is way they are officially recognized by the government though a lot remains to be done in further developing and integrating the system to modern justice system.
By fostering reconciliation and forgiveness, indigenous conflict management system appears to effectively settle problems. Preserving indigenous knowledge requires collaboration among scholars, respective government bodies and others. First the country needs to identify the values and their significance before applying them.
This knowledge should be studied across various disciplines. In fact identification is not an end; the values should be applied and used. Preserving indigenous values should aim more on mainstreaming them.
Herald March 22/2019
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT �>�
