Revitalizing Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the 21st Century

Indigenous knowledge plays a vital role in sustaining ecosystems, strengthening community resilience, and preserving cultural identity, yet it has long been marginalized by dominant global systems. Revitalizing and protecting this knowledge helps address modern challenges such as climate change, public health needs, equitable development, and more by drawing on place-based experience accumulated across generations. Integrating traditional practices with scientific methods and emerging technologies can create more sustainable, community-driven solutions while safeguarding cultural heritage. Efforts to validate and preserve indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) also challenge colonial legacies and promote greater respect for diverse worldviews, ultimately contributing to social justice and inclusive innovation. Revitalizing Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the 21st Century reclaims and recognizes the value of IKS in the 21st century by examining their significance, promoting their restoration, and highlighting their integration with contemporary issues and disciplines. It further fosters recognition and integration of IKS in various sectors, such as health, education, sustainable development, and environmental conservation. Covering topics such as community-affixed curricula, knowledge autonomy, and urban heritage protection, this book is an excellent resource for academicians, postgraduate students, policymakers, practitioners, cultural institutions, and more.

Dr Monicca Thulisile Bhuda holds PhD holder in Social Sciences with Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) from the North-West University (NWU), with 7 years' experience of teaching within the IKS, culture and heritage fields. She is a coordinator of a programme that focuses on African identities, Heritage and History at the University of Mpumalanga.Furthermore, . She also a culture and heritage lecturer within the same University. Currently as an academic, she has 30 academic publications on IKS and presented 35 abstracts in diverse conferences. She is co supervising students who are registered for master's degrees in IKS with NWU. She also has been declared a national expert of IKS by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture in the republic of South Africa and has served in a national panel of experts since 2021 until present. In 2023, she has been awarded by the South African National Heritage Council (NHC) under the category of Voice of heritage. The North-West University in 2023 also awarded her with an alumni excellence award within the education category. She has been featured numerous times on TV, radio and newsletters as an IKS and culture expert.