Philosophy through Indigenous Knowledge in the Global South
Project Overview
This project is NIHSS funded project, part of the Catalytic Research Programme, within the rubric of ‘Transformation, Race, Culture, and Identity’, a R1 million grant from 2023 to 2024.
Calls to decolonise academia by drawing on indigenous knowledge have become increasingly popular in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). Yet, curiously, Philosophy has not adverted to indigenous knowledge in its efforts to decolonise. This is particularly surprising in light of two factors. First, Philosophy, especially epistemology—the theory of knowledge—is meant to be the primary custodian of theorising the knowledge enterprise. Second, decolonising this enterprise requires us precisely to theorise from our geo-cultural location, and hence to consult the indigenous knowledge of that location. The project fills this theoretical lacuna by investigating how indigenous knowledges from the Global South can help us to reconceptualise central themes in core philosophical fields such as Epistemology, Ethics, and Philosophy of Science. The urgency of addressing this question cannot be overemphasised given how rapidly indigenous cultures are disappearing.
Conferences to Date
- 9-11 Oct 2023:Philosophy through Indigenous Knowledge in the Global South Workshop funded by National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) Zoom hybrid @ ACEPS-UJ
- 9-10 Apr 2024: Taking Indigenous Knowledge Seriously part of Philosophy through Indigenous Knowledge in the Global South Project funded by National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) @ ACEPS-UJ
Research Dissemination to Date
- Mitova, V. (Visit) Nov 2023:2 week visit as part of Philosophy through Indigenous Knowledge in the Global South project funded by National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) @ Goa Uni & Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
- Mitova, V. (Invite) 21 Nov 2023: Reparations-Decolonisations-Just Transitions @ IIT Delhi.
- Mitova, V. (Invite) 23 Nov 2023: Decolonial Epistemic Authority – Reparations @ Goa Uni.
Philosophy through Indigenous Knowledge Speaker Series to Date
- 20 Oct 2023: Philosophy through Indigenous Knowledge Speaker Series funded by NIHSS: Opening Lecture – Ethnophilosophy as Decolonization: Revisiting the Question of African Philosophy by Dr Paul Irikefe 16:00 SAST/ 7:00 CA Zoom hybrid @ ACEPS/UJ Online Talk
- 6 Feb 2024: ACEPS NIHSS funded Philosophy through Indigenous Knowledge Speaker Series: Applying appropriate research methodologies within the academy. Insights from African Indigenous Knowledge Systems discipline by IKS expert and culture and heritage lecturer Dr Monicca Bhuda (U of Mpumalanga) – Talk & Slides – @ ACEPS-UJ