Exploring relationality in African knowledge systems : a contribution to decoloniality in sustainability science

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dc.contributor.advisorPreiser, Rikaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorCarstens, Melanieen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-22T12:16:52Z
dc.date.accessioned2023-01-23T06:52:07Z
dc.date.available2022-11-22T12:16:52Z
dc.date.issued2022-12
dc.descriptionThesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH SUMMARY: The contributions put forward by Western sustainability science to solve environmental problems are manifesting their shortcomings. It is therefore essential to explore knowledge systems beyond the predominant modern Western knowledge system established through colonisation. This thesis examines some aspects of relationality in social-ecological systems from the perspective of African Indigenous knowledge systems, as a way to approach the decolonisation of Western sustainability science, to uncover more substantial solutions. The following general enquiry guided this research: By observing the conspicuous relational ties between humans and non-humans seen in some Indigenous African cultures marginalised by Western science, would Western sustainability science not discover more realistic approaches to current global sustainability science offerings? Using a ‘third space’ methodology encouraged the integration of knowledge systems, where no one system dominates the other, and explores ‘not only/but also’ configurations of reality, beyond the ‘either/or’ binary reality of the Western knowledge system. This approach allowed two divergent knowledge systems to engage as equals in one study, to observe the issues at hand through their unique lenses and to find spaces of collaboration – thus reflecting the relationality theme in this thesis. The study consisted of an extensive literature review that employed ‘undisciplinary epistemological agility’ by following trails of information as they presented themselves, which were then carefully pieced together after two rounds of coding. Contrary to the Western knowledge system, context plays an extremely important role in African Indigenous knowledge systems and is defined by a here and now that includes all space and time. In essence, ukama considers all nature as an extension of the self and vice versa. Humans and nature are related and belong together. Looking after nature equates to looking after the self and the community – thus benefitting everyone. Furthermore, ubuntu teaches that all humans are inherently born with dignity. All others (humans and non-humans) should be respected, because while humans are distinct from non-humans, they are not separate. Some features of relationality that were observed include ancestors, land, animism and cosmology. Everything is constantly in a process of becoming, engaging in a relationship of balance which has no finalised state. Western sustainability science therefore needs to unlearn and rethink the knowledge base on which it has constructed its solutions. Diverse knowledge systems serve as dynamic and meaningful allies in reimagining a common sustainable future on Earth. It is therefore vital to eradicate the relational gap between knowledge systems caused by persistent coloniality.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bydraes wat Westerse volhoubaarheidswetenskap voorhou om omgewingsprobleme op te los, openbaar hul tekortkominge. Dit is daarom noodsaaklik om kennisstelsels buite die oorheersende moderne Westerse kennisstelsel wat deur kolonialisme daargestel is, te verken. Hierdie tesis ondersoek sommige aspekte van relasionaliteit in sosiaal-ekologiese stelsels vanuit die perspektief van Afrika Inheemse kennisstelsels, as ’n manier om die dekolonisering van Westerse volhoubaarheidswetenskap te benader, om meer wesenlike oplossings te onthul. Die volgende algemene vraag het hierdie navorsing gelei: Deur die opvallende verhoudingsbande waar te neem wat tussen mense en nie-mense gesien word by sommige Inheemse Afrika-kulture, gemarginaliseer deur Westerse wetenskap, sou Westerse volhoubaarheidswetenskap nie meer realistiese benaderings tot huidige wereldwye volhoubaarheidswetenskaplike aanbiedinge kon ontdek nie? Die gebruik van ’n ‘derde ruimte’-metodologie het die integrasie van kennisstelsels bevorder, waar geen stelsel die ander oorheers nie, en ‘nie net/maar ook’ konfigurasies van die werklikheid ondersoek, buite die ‘óf/óf’-binere werklikheid van die Westerse kennisstelsel. Hierdie benadering het dit moontlik gemaak vir twee uiteenlopende kennisstelsels om as gelykes in een studie saam te werk, om hedendaagse kwessies deur hul unieke lense waar te neem en om ruimtes van samewerking te vind – wat dus die relasionaliteitstema in hierdie tesis weerspieel. Die studie het ’n uitgebreide literatuur-oorsig behels wat ‘ondissiplinere epistemologiese behendigheid’ ingespan het deur die inligtingspore te volg soos hulle opgeduik het, wat dan noukeurig saamgevoeg is na twee rondes kodering. In teenstelling met die Westerse kennisstelsel, speel konteks ’n uiters belangrike rol in Afrika Inheemse kennisstelsels en word dit deur ’n hier en nou wat alle ruimte en tyd insluit, omskryf. In wese beskou ukama die hele natuur as ’n uitbouing van die self en omgekeerd. Mense en die natuur is verwant en behoort saam. Om na die natuur om te sien is gelykstaande daaraan om na die self en die gemeenskap om te sien – dus tot almal van voordeel. Verder leer ubuntu ons dat alle mense met inherente waardigheid gebore word. Alle anderes (mense en nie-mense) moet gerespekteer word, want alhoewel mense en nie-mense van mekaar onderskei kan word, bestaan hulle nie apart van mekaar nie. Sommige kenmerke van relasionaliteit wat waargeneem is, sluit voorvaders, land, animisme en kosmologie in. Alles is voortdurend in ’n proses van wording, werksaam in ’n verhouding van balans sonder ’n finale toestand. Westerse volhoubaarheidswetenskap moet dus die kennisbasis waarop huidige oplossings gebou is, afleer en herbesin. Uiteenlopende kennisstelsels dien as dinamiese en betekenisvolle bondgenote in die herverbeelding van ’n gemeenskaplike volhoubare toekoms op Aarde. Daarom is dit noodsaaklik om die relasionele gaping tussen kennisstelsels wat deur volgehoue kolonialiteit veroorsaak word, uit te wis.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMasters
dc.embargo.terms2025-11-28
dc.format.extentix, 129 pages : illustrations, includes annexures
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/126321
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subject.lcshTraditional ecological knowledgeen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSustainable developmenten_ZA
dc.subject.lcshClimate change mitigationen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshDecolonizationen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshClimatic changes -- Social aspectsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshEnvironmental conditionsen_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.titleExploring relationality in African knowledge systems : a contribution to decoloniality in sustainability scienceen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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