“There are No Trees Here”: Understanding Perceived Intergenerational Erosion of Traditional Medicinal Knowledge among Kenyan Purko Maasai in Narok District

Abstract

Evidence in the literature suggests that traditional medicinal knowledge (TMK) among Indigenous populations is declining. This study focused on understanding influences underlying the perception of intergenerational erosion of TMK among Kenyan Purko Maasai. Methods included a combination of participant observation and in-depth interviews among 30 participants. Using a political ecology framework, results indicate a number of sociocultural factors contributing to local perceptions of decline in TMK among younger generations. Shifts in land tenure and changes in locality, for example, impact transmission of knowledge. While younger generations described a strong desire to learn TMK, they were at a loss as to how to gain the knowledge. Our findings suggest that limited in-situ learning opportunities within the local environment is a leading factor resulting in perceptions of intergenerational erosion of knowledge. We conclude that, to ensure the transmission of this valuable cultural resource, a shift is needed in educational strategies, both at the school and community level.