Indigenous Knowledge Innovation for African-Centered Education System

Keynote: Indigenous Knowledge Innovation for African -Centered Education System by Mammo Muchie, DPhil: DST/NRF Rated Research Professor Tshwane University of Technology, Adjunct Professor, BDU, UoG & Haramaya University, Ethiopia, and Africa Centre of Excellence in Data Science, University of Rwanda;TMDC, Oxford University, U.K May 20-21,2022 Organized by Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology, Bahir Dar University

Outline Inspiration What is Indigenous Knowledge What is Indigenous Knowledge Kkey Characteristics of Indigenous Knowledge Indigenous Knowledge Imhotep: Imhotep: The African Great Example of Indigenous Knowledge Excavating the Science and Technology roots from the African Origin Transforming the African Education Curriculum STEM & IK as part of the Unity of Knowledge African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development(www.JSTID.com) Concluding Recommendations

Inspiration Africa is a treasure trove not only of Benin bronzes, coltan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and diamonds from Botswana. The real unmined gems are African concepts, ideas, values, ways of being and systems of knowledge and episteme. (Oyewumi, p. 4). When I refer to Africa, I mean the sum total of African cultures, as sedimented for millennia in philosophies, wisdoms, ways of knowing, ways of being and doing things as well as of relating to otherness (Olabiyi,Ya , 2008).

Inspiration Sustainable development has to be rooted in the culture, preserving local languages and integrating ancestral practices that are good for the environment. It has to resemble you and where you want your country to go. You can get there by being authentic and you can do that by teaching science in the local language, such as Wolof, a language of Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania. (Khady Sall, in Nature, 2022)

Inspiration The history of Africa, like the history of mankind as a whole, is really the story of an awakening. That story needs rewriting, for it has been considerably distorted by ignorance or self-interest. (Ki-Zerbo (1990, p. 1) The tragedy of the world is that those who have imagination have but slight experience and those who are experienced have feeble imaginations. Fools act on imagination without knowledge: pedants act on knowledge without imagination. Time to value the ignored indigenous knowledge to weld together imagination, STEM, and experience to build and create experienced learners with knowledge and imagination hybridity and synergy

Inspiration The world is still divided by implicit or explicit classifications of inferiority and superiority Africans have not yet fully removed coloniality They still prefer to look and affirm each other by mimicking externality There is still failure to appreciate their full humanity by asserting their rich Africanity

Inspiration African identity continues to be subtracted by a degrading psychic dislocation Africans using external colonial presence by defining themselves with division Like Lusophone Francophone Anglo phone Ethnic phone Language phone Religion phone Gender phone And so on Africa is not a phone

Inspiration Africans must treat one another as one human family Practicing Ubuntu truly Building the African education system with IK & STEM with Ubuntu value really

Inspiration Not call some Africans as relatives and others as aliens Africa-philia must replace all- the divisive phones that turn the African one family as strangers Africa must overcome others continued demand to maintain their claims to superiority Africa can reject it by showing there is no justification to continue any form of inferiority By all Africans coming together showing the necessity to recognize full equality To build with the cherished rich African value of ubuntu one in all and all in one humanity

What is Indigenous Knowledge IK is very relevant and it is also called traditional and local knowledge IK is a product of cultures, traditions, values, beliefs, experience transmitted from generations Not universities and the academy Though it needs universities, Governments and academies to excavate, record, code and develop IK. Indigenous knowledge must no longer be ignored

IK & SK IK subordinate;SK dominant IK thinking style intuitive;SK analytical reductionist IK communication approach is mainly, oral, story telling, experiential SK is academic, positivist and objective IK explanation.. Spirtual, inexplicable, SK, scientific hypothesis, laws

Indigenous Knowledge is Getting Recognition knowldge recognised for social and economic development at the rural and community levels (e.g. World Bank, UNESCO, UNDP, UNIDO etc) The challenge is how to develop IK by organising a knowledge peace that leads to a positive sum game between IK and scientific knowldge, technology and engineering Keep the identity of IK even when promoting SK with STEM To bring out the transformative components from IK by integrating with STEMI-modern science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation

Key characteristics of Iindigenous Knowledge Four steps to define IK Socialisation Externalisation Combined innovation Internalisation or embedding

IK through Socialisation Promotes knowldge and experience exchange through engagement in social activitiese.g. informal meetings, living together, discussion, informal connections and other associations

IK Through Externalisation Transforms socialised tacit knowledge gained to explicit knowledge by creating concepts that can be understood and exchanged

IK Through Combined Innovation Transforms explicit knowledge into more systemic form making explicit knowldge to be communicated, diffused and systematised

IK through Internalisation or embedding Makes explict knowldge to be embedded into tacit knowledge, making it more complex and dynamical

A Great Example of Indigenous Knowledge Humanity originated from Africa, all knowledge also in every sphere was created in ancient Africa The case of Imhotep is something I strongly recommend all Africans must know Who is Imhotep? Imhotep was an ancient Egyptian architect, physician, astronomer, priest, politician, and scribe of the 27th century BCE. He was one of the most influential figures in the rise of Egyptian civilization as we know it and one of the first great scholars in human history. He was later deified as the god of medicine and wisdom.

Imhotep Means He Who Comes in Peace "The separation of the races is not a disease of colored people. It is a disease of white people. I do not intend to be quiet about it." Albert Einstein teaching a physics class at Lincoln University (HBCU in Pennsylvania) in 1946. The name Imhotep translates to He Who Comes in Peace , and was a polymath of high esteem, also being a poet, mathematician, and physician. The first Egyptian to be fully deified, he was later worshipped as a god of medicine after his death. There are around 200 cures and techniques attributed to him 2,200 years before Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

Contribution to a number of fields Imhotep is thought to be the author of the Edwin Smith Papyrus, which outlines a hundred medical terms and describes various injuries and their treatments. Imhotep was one of the first physicians to believe diseases occurred naturally and were not judgements from the gods. The papyrus contains detailed descriptions of physical conditions, with their treatments rooted in practical science. An inscription bearing his name was found on a statue of Djoser at the site of the pyramid, designating him as head of the sculptors and head of the seers. This was a sign of respect from Djoser, as previously only the names of the kings would be written on their tombs. Imhotep held many titles, starting life with little money or connections before working his way to the very top of Egyptian society.

Medicine and Architecture Not all of Egypt's most influential figures were pharaohs. Let us learn about the polymath Imhotep and see just how he impacted Ancient Egyptian Kehmet civilization. Imhotep was extremely educated, studying a number of disciplines, and was able to help orchestrate the growth of Kehmet. He is also said to have helped save it from famine and drought through his planning and ingenuity. While he contributed to a number of fields, there are two for which Imhotep is most remembered: medicine and architecture.

Know Ethiopia/Khmet is Linked to Imhotep If you are Christian, you go to Jerusalem If you are Judaic, you go to Israel If you are Muslim, you go to Mecca-Medina If you are Buddhist, you go to Asia If you are to know independence, you go to Ethiopia If you are to know who stretches her hand into God, you go for Ethiopia If you want to know the genius of geniuses, you go for Imhotep-the true African.

The Designer of the First Pyramid Imhotep, the man who designed the world s first pyramid, was the vizier. He was history s first known polymath. Imhotep was the Da Vinci of the ancient world, a professional scribe, physician, surgeon, astronomer, stonemason, and architect. He left behind a wealth of knowledge that has benefited generations of engineers and doctors in the Near East and throughout the world. His medical expertise was ground- breaking and well ahead of its time. Over two thousand years after his death, people declared him a god for his many contributions to Egyptian civilization and the progress of humanity.

The Giza Pyramids The Third Dynasty (2649-2575 BC) marked the beginning of a new era. With the reign of its second king, Djoser (Netjerykhet), the age of the pyramids began. Djoser s vizier (chief official) and architect, the famed Imhotep, began the experimentation in pyramid building which culminated in the magnificent Giza pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty. These pyramids provide evidence of the growing power and status of the king/pharaoh.

Pyramid complex at Sakkara The great Pyramid complex at Sakkara was built for Djoser. The design of the complex was unique. The design emphasized the Two Lands of Upper and Lower Egypt over which the king ruled. The 15 hectare sire was selected as it was on the edge of the western desert and overlooked the capital of Memphis.

Imhotep Comes from a Humble Background Imhotep came from a humble background. He was born in the village of Gebelein, south of Thebes, the ancient Egyptian capital. We know very little about his early life, other than that his father was an architect by the name of Kanofer. Imhotep lacked a royal upbringing but learned to read and write. He became a scribe and rose through the ranks to become the head priest of the Sun god Ra at Heliopolis, a city in Lower Egypt.

Imhotep with King Djoser Djoser was Egypt s Pharaoh during Imhotep s time. He was an ambitious man who did not want to be buried like his ancestors. Djoser requested Imhotep to design his new necropolis

Imhotep as Ras High Priest . Imhotep was a skilled engineer and an architect, besides being Ra s high priest. He was well-versed in the art of masonry. He used his knowledge to create the Pharaoh's vision of the world s first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Saqqara also known as Djoser s Pyramid. Construction in Egypt prior to the pyramid was done with mud bricks. This was the first time they employed sophisticated masonry techniques to construct a structure entirely of stones.

The Designer of the Ancient Wonder. The Djoser s Pyramid was Imhotep s crowning architectural achievement. He may have designed an even larger pyramid, that of Pharaoh Shekhemkhet. Imhotep s architectural efforts enabled future generations of engineers to create the spectacular Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest of the ancient world s seven wonders. True cities grew, agriculture became more sophisticated, architecture was more advanced, and at the heart of it all, was Imhotep.

The Father of Medicine Imhotep was Egypt s chief physician besides being the Pharaoh's right- hand man and a skilled builder. The multi-talented genius supervised the medical treatment of the workers who built the pyramid. Egyptians regard Imhotep as the father of medicine. Inscriptions on the walls of temples in Egypt show Imhotep taking care of sick people and getting rid of their illnesses. Over two thousand years before Hippocrates, Imhotep produced a comprehensive list of 90 medical terms regarding the human anatomy. He also identified 48 injuries of the human body. We know this medical dictionary as the Edwin Smith papyrus. The papyrus bears Edwin Smith s name, as he purchased it in 1862. It is the earliest medical encyclopedia ever discovered.

The original author of the Edwin Smith papyrus. The Edwin Smith papyrus is remarkable for its time, as it is the first document to describe the structures of our skull, brain, and spine. The treatment of spinal injuries mentioned in the papyrus would be far more advanced than anything produced before modern times. Egyptologists believe Imhotep was the original author of the Edwin Smith papyrus. He knew the location of various organs in the human body and understood how the circulatory system worked. According to the renowned oncologist and Pulitzer-winning author Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, the papyrus contains the first documented reference to cancer. Scientists analyzed the remains from six mummies and found evidence of individuals suffering from cancer. It appears the physicians tried treating some of the symptoms such as ulcers.

First Founder of School of Medicine Imhotep started a school of medicine in Thebes 2200 years before Hippocrates was born. He detected and cured nearly 200 ailments. 15 were abdominal, 11 were bladder related, 10 were rectum related, 29 concerning the eyes, and 18 involved skin, hair, and nails. Tuberculosis, gout, and arthritis are some diseases Imhotep successfully treated. He was not only a medical specialist, but he also conducted surgery and dentistry. Imhotep s discoveries were passed down through the generations, and that subsequent doctors could build on them. Imhotep s discoveries were passed down through the generations, and that subsequent doctors could build on them. Imhotep s discoveries were passed down through the generations, and that subsequent doctors could build on them

Imhotep Contribution to the Human Race Although he became a personality cult, there is no denying the immense contribution of Imhotep to the progress of the human race. Future pyramid makers built on his design to create the most remarkable feat of human engineering in the ancient world, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Phoenician, Greek, and Roman physicians inherited the medical knowledge of Imhotep from the Egyptians and built upon his methods. Imhotep s contributions to the world of medicine helped future generations of Egyptian physicians develop revolutionary inventions. One such discovery was the world s first recorded pregnancy test, which was 85% accurate.

Imhotep Fame Escalated Imhotep s fame increased in the years following his death because of his work healing ailments and defining human anatomy for future generations. Egyptians revered him as the creator of healing, and he made a Demi- god a hundred years after his death. But the peak craze about Imhotep was during the Greek rule in Egypt. Greeks compared him to Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine. 2000 years after his death, Egyptians declared Imhotep a god. He took the place of Nefterum in the triad of Memphis. The triad of Memphis comprises the god Ptah (god of creation), goddess Sekhmet (goddess of healing and wife of Ptah), and their son Nefertum.

The first Non-Royal to be Defied After his deification, people in Egypt recognized Imhotep as Ptah s son. He became one of the few non-royal Egyptians to be deified. The people of Egypt built temples in his honor at Memphis and Philae. Patients from all over the country flocked to his temples, hoping to find a cure for their illnesses. There was a deep conviction among them that if Imhotep blessed you, you will be disease-free. The cult of Imhotep lasted a thousand years until 550 A.D.

Priest of the Temple of Ptah It is believed Imhotep began as a priest in the temple of Ptah, his understanding of the will of the gods making him the most qualified person to build the pyramid which would house the Pharaoh s body for all eternity. This was a new venture: previous Pharaohs were buried in mastabas, rectangular structures with a flat roof which were built over the underground chambers where the dead were buried. The pyramid was constructed out of six masatabas built on top of one another. Imhotep changed the design to be square but had to redesign it to be rectangular. He also wanted to use stone instead of mud. This meant greater structural integrity and allowed him to build higher.

The Unique Pyramid Architecture There were 13 false doors cut into the stone with a 750m long trench dug into the ground. These were to discourage visitors, who would have to be told how to enter the complex. There were also mazes built into the underground chambers to protect Djoser s body. 40,000 stone vessels of different shapes and sizes were also found beneath the pyramid, inscribed with the names of previous rulers.

The Unique Pyramid Architecture The pyramid design was the tallest structure of its time and had a surrounding complex made up of a temple, courtyards, shrines, storerooms and living quarters for priests. Factoring in everything within the wall surrounding the complex, it was size of a city. These methods were used in later pyramids for other Pharaohs, but its is unknown whether Imhotep himself built these or if his designs were used by others emulating his style. This is unsurprising, as the design and construction of the step pyramid stands as one of the most important milestones in architecture and engineering in human history.

Multiple Imhotep Knowledge Contributions His unique role is the knowledge he contributed in many disciplines Astronomy Mathematics Engineering Science Politics Religion Good to do research and demonstrate the contributions He is the originator of the unity of Knowledge

Ancient Egypt was Kehmet, Ethiopia and Africa The ancient Egyptian civilization was the first of the recorded great world civilizations. Little is known about the prehistoric societies that came before Egypt but it is assumed that they were steeped in superstition and that their ability to treat disease was primitive at best and possibly non-existent. But Ancient Egypt was Kehmet, Ethiopia and Africa Humanity , Science and Civilization originated from Africa Imhotep was African Let us celebrate the origin of humanity: Know that science, knowledge, innovation, medicine, astronomy, engineering, technology, mathematics architecture and philosophy originated from Africa

African Contributions to Science:Examples in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and Astronomy Civilisation, astronomy, science, mathematics and philosophy originated from Africa Physics/Mechanics/Engineering The level, the screw, Archimedes principle , C.A. Diop (nuclear physics), Abdou Moumouni Dioffo (Solar physicist), Edouard Adjanohoun (Botanist) Chemistry/Metallurgy/Ceramics Iron age (Southern Africa) ~ 2600 BC-1500 BC, Metallurgy of Iron (steel) ~ 900 BC, Benin Bronze, Indigenous/artisanal mining (Chirikure, 2009) Medicine Imhotep (Father of Medicine), Peseshet (first woman surgeon, 4th dynasty), Charles Drew (blood transfusions) Astronomy Ancient Egypt (solar calendar), Dogon (Sirius B), Benjamin Banneker (surveyor, astronomer)

Some Examples from Africa: Mathematics Proto-maths: Lebombo bone (S.A./Swaziland) ~35,000 B.C.; Ishango bone (Congo)~25,000 B.C. Ancient Egypt: Ahmose (Rhind) mathematical papyrus ( )~1650 BC, Moscow papyrus Sona Geometry (Angola) symmetrical, monolinear. Basis for new mathematical ideas like mirror curves and various classes of matrices (cycle, cylinder, helix)- (Gerdes, 2009) African fractals (West and Central Africa) repeating geometric patterns at various scales used in textiles, paintings, sculpture, cosmologies, architecture, town planning. Fractals are the basis of the worldwide web (Eglash, Odumosu, 2005) Binary logic in Yoruba culture for both computation and metaphysics (Segla, 2010)

Some Examples of African Philosophy African Concept of Personhood, Communalism, African humanism Employed in HIV/Aids prevention campaigns in Uganda and Senegal, Gacaca (reconciliation) in Rwanda Critical retrieval, (Ya , 1999), Sankofa Science (socially- inclusive science) Applied to study of stem cell research in California (Benjamin, 2013)

African Environmental Philosophy Environmental philosophy Eco-bio-communitarianism (Gwangwa, 2004), Ethics of care, Ethics of nature relatedness (Ogungbemi, 2001) Can be applied to energy policy Epistemology The nature of knowledge, belief, values in Yoruba culture (Hallen and Sodipo, 1997 )

Acknowledgment of African Contribution from Western Research Universities Africans also have originated many scientific discoveries. Evidence has been acknowledged by astronomers and engineers from Western Research universities that in many major inventions, documented contributions have been made by Africans. Carbon steel was made 2000 years ago in Tanzania; astronomical observations in the Mali of the Dogons have been acknowledged by carl Segall of Cornell University, language, mathematical systems, architecture, agriculture, and cattle-rearing, navigation of inland water ways and open seas, medicine and communication, writing systems in all these fields Africans have been inventors!

African Contribution: Agriculture African knowledge in agriculture is rich. This has been recognised and acknowledged fully by the US Academy of Science in 1996 that Africa has more native cereals than any other continent. It has its own species of rice, as well as finger millet, fonio, peral millet, sorghum, teff, guinea millet, and several dozen wild cereals whose grains are eaten. This is a food heritage that has fed people for generations, possibly stretching back to the origins of mankind. It is also a local legacy of genetic wealth upon which a sound food future might be built. But strangely, it has been bypassed in modern times . Forward thinking scientists are starting to look at the old cereal heritage with unbiased eyes .Peering past the myths, they see waiting in the shadows a storehouse of resources whose qualities offer promise not just to Africa, but the world. The Ethiopian crop teff is medicine. It has still great potential to be the nutrition for healthy living. Food security in Africa should not be in doubt at all( quoted Muchie et al: Putting Africa First: The Making of African Innovation Systems, Aalborg University Press, 2003, Pp.43-61)

Ancient Ethiopian Mathematics There was an ancient mathematics from Ethiopia demonstrating that Africans used binary logic of mathematical calculation which is similar to today s internet explorer and other computer based systems. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOKp9_sSkZghtttp://www.emresanli. com/video/?id=D7PDQUH6Aykhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1AxhxirMuI) https://www.google.co.za/search?q=ancient+ethiopian+mathematics&bi w=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=- I1KVa7qGq2v7AbPgoCIAg&sqi=2&ved=0CEEQsAQ&dpr=1 There are now two global economies: real and virtual.. The binary logic of mathematics used for the internet world was used both by Ethiopian mathematics in Africa.

Binary Logic There are now two global economies: real and virtual.. The binary logic of mathematics used for the internet world was used by Ethiopian mathematics Example: 7 times 8= 56 14 times 4= 56 28 times 2= 56 56 times 1= 56

Binary Logic Take: 9 times 16=144 18 times 8=144 36 times 4= 144 72 times 2=144 144 times 1=144

Africa: The Origin of Universities The first university in the world was African Hayk Estifanos in Ethiopia is the earliest university The Al Karaouine University founded by an African woman in Fez, Morocco in 859A.D. The Guinness Book of World Records says so The second university in the world was African-Al Azhar University of Egypt built in 969A.D. which still exists today In Europe the University of Bologna in 1088AD, 229 years after the first university by the African woman Fez started it. (http://newafricanmagazine.com/need-africa-centred-innovations- systems-prof-mammo-muchie/)