Reviving local cognitive methods is related to African knowledge innovation
September 20, 2024 10:01 Source: "Chinese Social Sciences Journal" Issue 2980, September 20, 2024 Author: Liu Yuwei/Compiler

bet365 Play online games In recent years,African academic circles are generally concerned about a problem: African indigenous cognitive methods have not been fully valued and recognized in the knowledge system。Recent,Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, Assistant Professor, Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Canada, and Zainab Monisola, Postdoctoral Researcher, Human Rights Center, University of Pretoria, South Africa ·Zainab Monisola Olaitan conducted an in-depth discussion on this issue on the "Dialogue" website。

From colonial times to the present,African knowledge production has always been affected by unequal power dynamics。Oloruntuba expressed,Eurocentrism affects the theory of social science research in Africa、Methods and Bet365 lotto review Practice,and has had a negative impact on Africa’s development process,Including distortion of history、Deliberately restricting the dissemination of African knowledge production、Rejection of African data collection methods such as oral evidence、Suppressing women’s voices, etc.。Oloruntuba thinks,Only by reviving Africa’s indigenous way of knowing,To ensure that knowledge produced in Africa is on an equal footing with knowledge produced elsewhere。

Researchers such as Oloruntuba examine the Western and African perspectives in the study of indigenous entrepreneurship in Africa。Since colonial times,Entrepreneurship education emphasizes personal achievement and wealth accumulation。But,This Eurocentric perspective is not in line with the core values ​​of African entrepreneurs,For example, resource sharing、Community ownership and care for the environment。Terence Jackson, emeritus professor Bet365 lotto review of cross-cultural management at Middlesex University Business School in the UK, pointed out,Masai people in Africa、Tewa people、Differences between Basungaro and Khoisan understandings of entrepreneurship and those of Eurocentric scholars。Many African communities participate in economic activities,Not only pursuing economic interests,It is based on social and spiritual needs。At the social level,Working is not just about accumulating personal wealth,Also includes sharing results with the community。On the spiritual level,Work is also to express people’s love for the land、Respect for nature and the environment。Oloruntuba and others believe,If knowledge innovation fails to fully absorb the perspectives of local communities,It will weaken their ability to solve the unemployment problem of the community。

Oloruntuba and Olatan think,Africa has obvious shortcomings in building a knowledge system。Eurocentrism bet365 Play online games dominates the methodology of African studies,Especially in data collection and analysis。Researchers usually rely on questionnaires、Tools such as interviews and telephone surveys to collect information,However, these methods may not be feasible in some communities due to language and cultural differences。At the same time,Exotic theories often dominate academic discussions in Africa,But these theories are often not entirely relevant to Africa’s socioeconomic realities。

Oloruntuba and Olatan said,Respecting the cultural customs of African communities is an often overlooked aspect of African knowledge innovation。At some methodological seminars,Researchers explore whether gifts should be given to potential interviewees and elders in native African communities,To show respect。Pointed out in discussion,Not all African respondents should accept gifts,To the elders of the community、It is acceptable for women and narrators to offer Bet365 app download gifts。Admittedly,In orthodox academic research,Gift giving may be considered unethical by influencing the respondent。But if knowledge creation is aimed at building partnerships with indigenous communities,Then it is crucial to obtain the consent of the members。

Oloruntuba and Olatan pointed out,Indigenous knowledge-oriented research methods provide a way for knowledge innovation in Africa that is more in line with local realities、A way to more respect the voices of local communities。For example,"Ownership" adopted by Canada's Aboriginal people、Control、Principle of "right of acquisition and right of possession",Ensuring the dominant position of Aboriginal people in data collection and use,Increased their participation and voice in research。This principle also shows important value in the fields of international political economy and local entrepreneurship research,Promote the development of diverse and inclusive knowledge。

 (Liu Yuwei/Compiled)

Editor: Zhang Jing
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