Climate Change Adaptation in Southern Africa: Universalistic Science or Indigenous Knowledge or Hybrid

Abstract

The aims of this chapter are to seek answer, through a document review, case studies, and thematic content analysis, to which direction Southern Africa should take in the face of climate change and to suggest a framework for adaptations by communities experiencing climatic events. Acknowledging that the fundamental set of ideas provided by indigenous knowledge (IK) works best at a small scale, the chapter argues for the need to seriously value IK-based response practices in the knowledge hybridization agenda. The worsening vulnerability potentiated by the increasing magnitude and severity of climate change impacts is a reminder that local-based indigenous response practices in Africa need to be complemented. Adaptation to climate change calls for real and surreal measures all being applied in combination. Across Africa, these measures have, at times, included the preservation of forest resources which increased carbon sinking and enhanced community resilience against climate change. Universalistic and orthodox sciences have punctuated and amplified these efforts by speaking of such initiatives as mitigation and adaptation through programs, e.g., Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). The merits of the two approaches have resulted in increasing call among scholars for the merging of these programs with IK. However, it remains to be fully understood how such a hybrid approach could be operationalized without treating the latter as an inferior element in climate science discourses.

Taboos no longer exist here: Factors undermining value and use of traditional ecological knowledge in conservation and management of savanna ecosystem services in South Africa

“…Traditionally, TEK has been transmitted through oral traditions, including the use of local languages, idioms, proverbs, tales, and poems. However, the introduction of colonizers' languages such as English and Afrikaans, formal education systems, and modern media, particularly social media, has disrupted the traditional pathways for passing down knowledge (Mutambisi et al, 2021). This disruption has had a profound impact on the custodians of TEK, often the older generations, who have lost their primary means of disseminating this knowledge.…”

Translating Indigenous Knowledge into Actionable Climate-Change Adaption Strategies: A Case Study of Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, Free State Province, South Africa

“…As identified in the literature, the trend indicates that IK is a vital source of local-level CC adaptation strategies ( [22][23][24][25] ). Despite its benefits, the future of IK is likely to continue being overshadowed by apathy among young people, scientists, and policymakers, as observed by Muringai et al [12].…”

Karanga women’s utilisation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems on climate change adaptation and mitigation in Zimbabwe: Towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13)

“…In Africa, where women have traditionally performed the majority of work in food production, agriculture is increasingly becoming a female dominated sector (Mutambisi, Chanza, Matamanda, Ncube & Chirisa, 2021). In Sub-Saharan Africa, women contribute 60-80% of household food production (Mafongoya & Ajayi, 2017).…”