An Analysis of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Through the Eye of ‘iintsomi’ (folk tales)
Zoliswa Jacqueline Made 
& Ntsikelelo Breakfast
Issue: Vol.4 No.14 Special Issue Article 10 pp.121-129
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202341411 | Published online 22nd December, 2023
© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) are separate and different from the ‘international knowledge system’, which includes knowledge generated by the scientific community, namely: Universities, research institutions, and private firms. International knowledge is knowledge created based on modern scientific systems, research, and development, which are all part of the global scientific and technological enterprise of human civilization. This knowledge is acquired through formal education and ‘book learning’ and boosted by advanced study, internships, training, and mentoring that essentially ensure that the existing paths and developments for scientific knowledge creation, confirmation, and distribution are maintained and continued, which by and large is western in alignment. Therefore, this article aimed at promoting the value and the role played by Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the community. This was done by analysing the role played by songs in selected iintsomi (folk tales). Methodologically, this was a qualitative study based on a literature review assessment. The central thesis is that Indigenous Knowledge (IK) as opposed to Western universalism originates in a community of locals with a broader cultural background and is rich in its tradition (s), teachings and human conduct. IK is believed to be a critical basis of mannerisms and is the intertwining factor in society.
Keywords: Indigenous Knowledge (IK), Knowledge, iintsomi (folk tales), Western Universalism
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Dr. Zoliswa Jacqueline Made is a Senior Lecturer at the Department for Language and Literature, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. Her research focuses on Socio-Linguistic, Indigenous Knowledge System and Feminism.
Prof. Ntsikelelo Breakfast is the Head of Department of History and Political Studies at the Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. His research focuses on Democracy and Democratisation, Political development, and Development Studies, Sociology of Development, Conflict Management and Resolution, Development and Public Policy, South African Political Economy, Strategic and Security Studies, SA’s Local Government, Politics of Elections, Violent Service Delivery Protests, Post-Colonial theory, Youth Politics in South Africa, Political Theory and Sociology of Race.
Made, Zoliswa Jacqueline & Breakfast, Ntsikelelo. “An Analysis of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Through the Eye of ‘iintsomi’ (folk tales).” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 4, no.14 Special Issue (2023): 121-129. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202341411
© 2023 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
