Examine the notion that African indigenous education had a rich and valid curriculum to learn
African indigenous education was a traditional form of education that existed in Africa before the
coming of the European colonial powers.
It was a holistic approach that had rich and valid system that equipped individuals with the knowledge,
skills, and values necessary to thrive in their communities. It was aimed at developing the whole person
including their physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual well being.This system was often
overlooked and undervalued by colonial and Western educators, but it had a profound impact on the
lives of African people.
African indigenous education had a rich and valid curriculum to learn that encompassed various aspects
of life, culture and community in the following ways.
Community involvement.Learning was often community-based, with elders and experienced individuals
sharing their knowledge and skills for example during the planting of millets the Iteso of Uganda could
call family members,friends and neighbors to work together where they could divide and work for days
for each person.Apprenticeship among young people where they would learn from experienced mentors
thus developing their practical skills and knowledge was encouraged and this brought hardwork in the
community.
Cultural Knowledge.story telling was emphasized in communities and it was a vital part of cultural
transmission for example in South Africa, the San people used story telling to pass down their history
and cultural values, Music and dance in Ghana especially with the Akan people had a rich tradition of
dance and music which played an important role in cultural expression and community life.Arts and
symbolisms in the Democratic Republic of Congo among the Luba people where young people learned
about the meaning of different symbols and arts forms and this highly led to the maintaining of the
cultural values.
History and heritage,Indigenous education emphasized the importance of understanding and respecting
one's history and heritage values for example appeasing dead members and the observing of the clan
totem, food taboos among the Igbo of Nigeria and the continuing pulling among the Baganda
women.This mechanism of Baganda women started long ago you see that every generation is inheriting
the same idea.Many African cultures also had a strong spiritual component, with a deep connection to
the natural world and ancestors and every born in the community was expected to observe them thus
leading to increased culture maintenance.
Environmental Knowledge, African indigenous education emphasized the importance of living in
harmony with the natural environment with Sustainable practices for example communities developed
sustainable practices, such as crop rotation and conservation, to manage natural resources and they also
had medicinal knowledge which included knowledge about medicinal plants and traditional healing
practices for example among the Bagwere elders could take the young ones in the bushes showing them
different medicinal plants for hearing.
Community based and collective, Indigenous education emphasized the importance of contributing to
the well-being of the community everyone was working for the community not individual basis and
children belonged to the community everyone had a right to discpline wrong doers .There was
community service where community people could work together for example cleaning the roads and
providing security to the community and this mainly was among the Baganda of Uganda.And this
brought love and togetherness in the community.
Respect for elders and Authority,respect for elders and Authority was an ideal.Older individuals were
revered for their wisdom and experience.In some communities like the Kikuyu of Kenya young people
were supposed to kneel down while greeting elders and in communities like the Banyoro they could
sleep down before their King in order for the king to step on them as away of respecting him.Those who
disrespected others in the community were brought under the council of leaders in the community for
discipline hence providing peace and harmony in the area.
Conflict resolution,Communities developed mechanisms for resolving conflicts and maintaining
peace.There was no police departments but the security and characters were very excellent some
indigenous tribes such as the Bagwere of Uganda had a council of elders which was judgemental Incase
of one fails to observe the community rules.The rulers were highly respected and this eased the
implementation of their orders thus maintenance of peace and order in the community and also clan
conflicts were solved by clan leaders and family conflicts were to be solved with in the family thus
leading to easy managing of the people in the area.
Trade and commerce.Many African communities engaged in trade and commerce, exchanging 111goods
and services with the neighboring communities and crafts such as woodworking, weaving, and pottery
were emphasized highly as it was a source of income to some people in the community and
Communities also developed entrepreneurial skill, including marketing and sales for example the
Banyoro exchanged salt with the Baganda.
