The appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge System in WASH activities by Women at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Zimbabwe

Migrations, whether forced or voluntary, are often characterised by cultural insecurities for immigrants, refugees and displaced persons. This study focuses on the appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) in the implementation of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities by...

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Main Authors: Wisdom Sibanda, Melissa M. Hansen, Geoffrey Mukwada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2022-12-01
Series:Cogent Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2022.2108229
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author Wisdom Sibanda
Melissa M. Hansen
Geoffrey Mukwada
author_facet Wisdom Sibanda
Melissa M. Hansen
Geoffrey Mukwada
author_sort Wisdom Sibanda
collection DOAJ
description Migrations, whether forced or voluntary, are often characterised by cultural insecurities for immigrants, refugees and displaced persons. This study focuses on the appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) in the implementation of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities by women at Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC), Zimbabwe. It argues that despite the impact of modernist predispositions on personal and collective identity, refugee women continually tap from their indigenous epistemic cultural memories in the context of their place-based social amenities and alternatives supplied by refugee camp authorities. Informed by a Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) theoretical framework; and drawing from a qualitative research method, the study used interviews, focus group discussions and participatory observations as the major data collection tools. The study established that in the face of resource scarcity in the camp, women creatively utilized strategies anchored on AIKS to enhance water sanitation and hygiene. In addition, the research noted that very little is being done towards the promotion of AIKS in the camp as the prevailing structures favour western innovation and technological advancements in WASH activities. The study concludes that it is praiseworthy and fundamental to resuscitate AIKS and blend it with modern scientific knowledge to resolve the vicissitudes of refugee women in the era affected by Cyclone Idai and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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spelling doaj.art-7d8196ab5bbf4e9a8fd012f3947e15b42022-12-22T01:32:55ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862022-12-018110.1080/23311886.2022.2108229The appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge System in WASH activities by Women at Tongogara Refugee Camp, ZimbabweWisdom Sibanda0Melissa M. Hansen1Geoffrey Mukwada2Department of Geography, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaDepartment of Geography, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaDepartment of Geography, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaMigrations, whether forced or voluntary, are often characterised by cultural insecurities for immigrants, refugees and displaced persons. This study focuses on the appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) in the implementation of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities by women at Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC), Zimbabwe. It argues that despite the impact of modernist predispositions on personal and collective identity, refugee women continually tap from their indigenous epistemic cultural memories in the context of their place-based social amenities and alternatives supplied by refugee camp authorities. Informed by a Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) theoretical framework; and drawing from a qualitative research method, the study used interviews, focus group discussions and participatory observations as the major data collection tools. The study established that in the face of resource scarcity in the camp, women creatively utilized strategies anchored on AIKS to enhance water sanitation and hygiene. In addition, the research noted that very little is being done towards the promotion of AIKS in the camp as the prevailing structures favour western innovation and technological advancements in WASH activities. The study concludes that it is praiseworthy and fundamental to resuscitate AIKS and blend it with modern scientific knowledge to resolve the vicissitudes of refugee women in the era affected by Cyclone Idai and the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2022.2108229African indigenous knowledge systemfeminist political ecologyresource scarcitywater sanitation and hygieneTongogara Refugee CampZimbabwe
spellingShingle Wisdom Sibanda
Melissa M. Hansen
Geoffrey Mukwada
The appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge System in WASH activities by Women at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Zimbabwe
Cogent Social Sciences
African indigenous knowledge system
feminist political ecology
resource scarcity
water sanitation and hygiene
Tongogara Refugee Camp
Zimbabwe
title The appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge System in WASH activities by Women at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Zimbabwe
title_full The appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge System in WASH activities by Women at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Zimbabwe
title_fullStr The appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge System in WASH activities by Women at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed The appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge System in WASH activities by Women at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Zimbabwe
title_short The appropriation of African Indigenous Knowledge System in WASH activities by Women at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Zimbabwe
title_sort appropriation of african indigenous knowledge system in wash activities by women at tongogara refugee camp zimbabwe
topic African indigenous knowledge system
feminist political ecology
resource scarcity
water sanitation and hygiene
Tongogara Refugee Camp
Zimbabwe
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2022.2108229
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