The North-West University (NWU) and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) hosted the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Expo on 17 August 2021.
According to Shumi Pango, deputy director for advocacy and policy development at the DSI, this year's expo focused was on Rooibos, community-based research and products, as well as astronomy, one of the 16 IKS disciplines identified by the DSI.
The expo was attended by various stakeholders, including dignitaries from the DSI, the NWU, the Khoi community, and indigenous knowledge holders from both South Africa and Botswana.
The event consisted of physical and virtual exhibitions and included a presentation by Annique Health and Beauty, a well-known South African business that develops skincare and health and lifestyle products as well as cosmetics and fragrances from the Rooibos plant.
According to Otsile Maditsi from NWU IKS Centre, other activities included panel discussions on Batswana, AmaXhosa and VhaVenda indigenous astronomy, the AmaZulu African calendar, Khoisan astrology and cosmology, the origin of Basotho astronomy and cosmology; and Credo Mutwa’s* legacy on astronomy and cosmology
Prof Thebe Medupe, deputy dean for community engagement in the NWU’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, thanked the DSI for their continued support.
“The NWU appreciates the funding that we receive from the DSI as it allows our postgraduate students to undertake various studies that have a positive impact on society. We also appreciate the support the DSI continues to provide to our IKS Centre.”
Prof Medupe said indigenous astronomy is close to his heart. “Indigenous astronomy shows that science is with us and around us. We need to use IKS as a vehicle to encourage our youth to venture into science.”
*Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa was a Zulu sangoma from South Africa. He was known as an author of books that draw upon African mythology, and traditional Zulu folklore. (Souce: Wikipedia)
Third-year NWU IKS student Mandy Rasehlomi engages with indigenous knowledge holder and products manufacturer Chief Ramabulana from Venda during the IKS Expo.
