Reflections on Studying the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Programme in a South African University

Abstract

In this study, I give an overview of how South African universities came to recognize Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). This background is significant because it provides context for the advancement of IKS in higher education to date and the ways in which scholars like me have benefited from these endeavours. Since IKS have been marginalized in higher education, their accreditation as programmes gives academics like me the chance to speak and serve as ambassadors for the indigenous people who have these knowledge systems. Using an autoethnographic method, I share my experience as an indigenous scholar who graduated from the IKS-accredited programmes which were recognized officially after the 1996 audit of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) auditing if technologies. I go on to discuss my current views on the IKS programmes and how I see their future in South African universities. In this study, I contend that the foundation that was laid by government in 1996 has had a significant impact on IKS scholars and the development of the IKS discipline in South African universities.