A Critical Analysis of The Impact of Digitizing Indigenous Knowledge
Abstract
A review of recent literature on the subject reveals that indigenous knowledge (IK) is one of the most popular subjects that have been studied, written about, discussed in conferences, in websites and favourably funded in terms of study projects, discussions and project implementation. At the international level, UN organisations such as the World Intellectual Property Organization, UNESCO, FAO and others have in recent years woken up to the fact that there is need to acknowledge, recognize and appreciate that traditional knowledge from all parts of the world has contributed and continues to contribute tremendously to many spheres of and strategies in world development. Specific policies, including national policies, have even referred to indigenous knowledge in the context of information communication and technology, copyrights and intellectual property rights. It however seems that the concern is focused on dissemination and sharing of this knowledge for the common good, to the extent that one wonders to whose interest this focus is geared and whether the ‘common good’ as justified by the concept of information commons, is truly common. In recognition of the fast technological developments and globalization trends, the author studied plans and processes of digitizing indigenous knowledge in Kenya and argues that under the present socio-economic and socio-political circumstances, it may not, in most cases, be advisable to indiscriminately subject it to the undergoing processes of digitization. The study was carried out in Kenya where the research assessed and critically analyzed the impact and challenges of digitizing indigenous knowledge.The study establishes that to date Kenyan IK largely remains unrecorded and shrouded in secrecy since it is not fully protected by patents or copyright laws, and where it is written and thus communicated, it is not fully interpreted, understood and appreciated. Traditionally, it is passed on verbally and thus classified as mere folktales. Nonetheless, while digitization of IK is a new and unavoidable development, it can also enhance piracy and loss of intellectual property rights unless Kenya establishes adequate and effective infrastructure and information system to capture, store and preserve its IK for utilization of this valuable resource in solving current and future socio psycho-political and economic problems for the betterment of Kenyans and the world at large.
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