Knowing the Unknown through the Known: The Case for Indigenous Knowledge in Sustainable Development

This paper focused on the need to introduce new ideas through the existing ones. It used this to express the place of existing knowledge hereafter referred to as indigenous knowledge, in sustainable development. The paper proceeded from the understanding of the concept of indigenous knowledge, its relevance, to an inventory of empirical studies on indigenous knowledge as it relates to agricultural development. The paper concluded by recognizing the need to inculcate this understanding into African Youths so that it will improve their creativity for sustainable development. This becomes more important following Vilakazi (2002) who stressed that humanity emerged first in Africa and that Africa is the mother of humankind who prepared the remarkable cultural foundation for human development.African Research Review Vol. 2 (2) 2008 pp. 218-23