An Exploration of African Indigenous Knowledge Methods of Water Conservation and Management in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore African indigenous knowledge methods of water conservation and management in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Indigenous people in their different environmental settings managed to use their water sustainably. Throughout time, they developed methods of conserving and managing water to ensure that there is water availability. Water conservation and management methods have sustained indigenous societies for years and continue to do so even though they are challenged by western worldviews. The objectives of the study were as follows: to appraise the African indigenous knowledge teachings and stories of water conservation and management, to examine the efficacy of African indigenous knowledge methods of water conservation and management, to determine factors leading to the disappearance of the African indigenous knowledge of water conservation and management, and to explore possible palliatives to ensure that indigenous methods of water conservation and management operate on an equal footing with the Eurocentric methods. This study was grounded in the socio-cultural and Afrocentric theory. In this study, an exploratory qualitative research design was adopted. Data was collected using one-on-one semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and non-participant observation. The target participants were sampled using non-probability sampling and purposive sampling. The study discovered that African indigenous knowledge still has an intrinsic role in water conservation and management. The study establishes that cultural beliefs, taboos and understanding of the surrounding natural environment have been influential in promoting African indigenous knowledge methods of water conservation.