Author ORCID Identifier
Abstract
This paper investigates the critical role of women in African cultures as guardians of cultural heritage. It explores their central function in transmitting traditional ecological knowledge and practices across generations through established pedagogical methods, toponymic knowledge systems (place-names within cultural landscapes), and the cultivation of tacit knowledge. The paper emphasizes the significance of women's contributions to environmental education, often overlooked or undervalued within Western scientific paradigms. This marginalization restricts access to resources and participation in decision-making processes. It argues for the integration of traditional knowledge systems, informed by women's expertise, into formal education and pedagogy. This inclusion serves to validate and legitimize African women's knowledge and experiences, fostering a more comprehensive framework for environmental understanding and the pursuit of sustainable development.
Recommended Citation
Laotan-Brown, Tokie
(2024)
"African Women Custodians: Teaching, Toponymy and Tacit Reverie in Heritage Education,"
Wagadu: A Journal of Transnational Women's & Gender Studies: Vol. 25:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.cortland.edu/wagadu/vol25/iss1/3
Included in
African History Commons, Higher Education Commons, Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons, History of Gender Commons, Indigenous Education Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons, Women's Studies Commons