Technology and Indigenous Cultures
The African
country of Senegal
has benefited from technology. A few highlights of Senegal are the following: Senegal was first known as the Empire of Ghana
(2nd to 11th centuries); it was here where Islamization began (1080AD); it was
home for the first Portuguese colonists (15th century) and the first French
colonists (1626 - 1659AD); the people of Senegal abolished slavery in 1848AD;
and Senegal was recognized as an independent state in 1960AD. In addition, Senegal
has a wide variety of cultures which are considered to be Indigenous. Ethnic
groups include the Wolof, the Serer, the Fulfulde (Peulh or Fula), the Jola
(Diola), the Tukulor, the Lebou, the Niominka, the Bassari and the Bambara.
Other cultures with a significant presence include the Moors, the Lebanese, and
the French (“Indigenous cultures,” “Nationmaster”).
Linguistically,
the Wolof language has become dominant,
with French spoken as a second language. The Wolof and other indigenous
languages have been studied and recorded by The World Bank Group known as the
Indigenous Knowledge Program. The Indigenous Knowledge Program is an asset and
demonstrates how technology has definitely affected the people of Senegal.
The objectives of the Indigenous Knowledge Program are to develop methods for
the capture, dissemination, and application of indigenous/traditional
knowledge.
The sharing of
indigenous knowledge in the areas of agriculture, health care, food
preparation, education, natural-resource management, and other traditional
knowledge is critical to the preservation of the rich content of each of the
ethnic and societal groups (The World Bank Group).
Indigenous peoples
of Senegal
have benefited from technology by outside groups who have built schools and
hospitals. One man who has done a significant amount of work in Senegal
is Revered Doctor Anderson V. Sanders, a 72 year old retired school principal,
building contractor, and African Methodist Episcopal Pastor.
Reverend Sanders
used his knowledge to erect a concrete block schoolhouse in the rural West
African Village of Wuro Abdula Mar Sibri, located in Senegal. He has spent 6-8 weeks
twice a year living in the village since 1993.
Presently, Reverend Sanders is building a health care facility.
Contributions are being solicited for needed water towers, toilets, septic
systems, generators, tile flooring, and medical equipment (Sanders, Anderson).
One application of
current technology to understand
indigenous knowledge is in the case of the Moringa Oleifera Tree. This tree can
be found throughout the world including places such as India, the Phillipines, Senegal, Niger,
Ethiopia,
etc. Seed kernels of the tree possess natural flocculents and are used to
purify the turbid waters of the Nile in Sudan. People in India say that
the Moringa tree can cure diseases such as diabetes, ulcers, high blood
pressure, pedal edema and kidney pain. The Church World Service (CWS) has a
program in Senegal
that demonstrated that the highly nutritious leaves of the Moringa tree can
help prevent malnutrition. Laboratory analysis has shown the fresh and dried
leaves contain high quantities of vitamins A, C, B-complex, E, iron, calcium,
potassium, magnesium and selenium. The leaves also contain a full compliment of
the essential amino acids. The CWS program has been able to show the Senegalese
that simply drying the leaves retains the majority of the nutritional
components. The leaves are dried, ground, and added to other food staples,
significantly improving the diet of those who eat these fortified foods. Mothers
and infants are the beneficiaries of this indigenous knowledge, which has been
supplemented by modern laboratory and technical science (UNESCO).
Bibliography
Indigenous cultures, kingdoms and ethnic groups of Senegal
Encyclopedia4u.com
www.encyclopedia4u.com/i/indigenous-cultures-kingdoms-and-ethnic-groups-of- seneg.html
Nationmaster.com Encyclopedia: Indigenous cultures, kingdoms
and ethnic groups of Senegal
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Indigenous-cultures,-kingdoms-and-ethnic-groups-of-Senegal
Sanders, Anderson. (Reverend Dr.) Marcus M. Garvey Improvement
Association
5472 Dry Fork Creek. Stone
Mountain, Georgia
30087, phone: 770-337-5782
e-mail bills283@aol.com
Stanford
University. Senegal on the Internet
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/sene.html
The World Bank Group. Indigenous Knowledge Program -
Objectives
http://www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/object.htm
UNESCO. SENEGAL
BP-II.10 - Best Practices on Indigenous Knowledge
Improving nutrition with Moringa 'miracle' trees in Senegal
http://www.unesco.org/most/bpik10-2.htm
University
of Pennsylvania. African
Studies Center
/ Senegal
Page
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Senegal.html
World Bank. International
Bank For Reconstruction And Development
Senegal:
Indigenous Language and Literature as a Non-profit Business
http://www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/iknt38.pdf