Description:
Although indigenous knowledge is key to the development of sub Saharan Africa and the
preservation of its societal memory, it is fast disappearing due to a variety of reasons. One
of the strategies that may assist in the management and preservation of indigenous
knowledge is the utilization of knowledge management models. This article shows that
knowledge management models may also offer a window of opportunity to manage and
integrate indigenous knowledge into other knowledge systems. Despite the fact that
knowledge management models tend to focus on business or organizational settings with
formal structures, they may be adapted to manage knowledge in local communities.
Knowledge management should not be restricted to “closed” business systems with formal
structures. It can also be practiced in open systems or in “the wild” as expressed by
Hutchins (1995). However, the ways in which communities can access and manage their
knowledge assets remains a major challenge to those involved in the preservation and
management of indigenous knowledge.