Acquiring and Transferring of Indigenous Knowledge Among Its Owners: A Literature Review

This chapter presents a survey of literature on acquiring and transferring indigenous knowledge among its owners. This chapter uncovers the type(s) of indigenous knowledge that is acquired and transferred among its owners. It also demonstrates the different ways of acquiring and transferring this valuable knowledge from generation to generation. Further, the chapter also unpacks the challenges of acquiring and transferring indigenous knowledge among its owners. This study was underpinned by knowledge creation model which supports the promotion and transferring of tacit knowledge like indigenous knowledge. The author contends that while indigenous knowledge has been broadly accepted in innovative countries, Africa is still lagging behind. The literature reviewed in this paper seemed to suggest that there are different forms (types) of indigenous knowledge that are widely used in medicine, education, communication, and agriculture. The literature reviewed also demonstrated that indigenous knowledge seems to be transferred among its owners by word of mouth, observing and learning by doing. However, there are several challenges hindering the transferring of indigenous knowledge from person to another. This is aggravated by people migration, lack of trust, impatience, unwillingness and a lack of infrastructure. Based on that, indigenous knowledge will remain marginalised and un-promoted. It is therefore recommended that there is a need for Africa to have its own African model which to promote the transfer of indigenous knowledges for it to survive for future generation.