Decolonizing Science
Within recent times, there has been an uptick in the call for the Decolonization of Science. Many have sought to approach this call from varying angles: promoting the validity of indigenous knowledge systems, recognizing the varying backgrounds of the people who contribute to technological and scientific advancement, and more.
In this short article, we discuss the approach that our organization takes to address this challenge.
We first begin the process decolonizing science with an appropriate definition of science.
Science (Nyansapɛ, Ìrò) — The practice and discipline of utilizing culturally based endeavors and “ways of knowing” to systematically establish a body of knowledge, understandings and “truths” that reflect a peoples’ worldview and serves their unique interests.
Critical to the understanding of science is the idea that it is inherently subjective. It reflects a people’s culture and ideology and works to serve a people’s unique interests.
We recognize that knowledge emerges from a people’s worldview and is paradigmatically restricted by that worldview. Studies have shown that the mind and body have an extremely hard time perceiving that which is outside of it’s accepted paradigm. Empirically, it has been demonstrated that objects, entities, information, ideas, concepts, and relationships that contradict one’s paradigm are invisible and most often will not be perceived or seen by constituents of said paradigm.
For diasporic and continental African people, the future of our well-being is intimately connected to the Decolonization of Science. However, decolonization is not necessarily a call to end science as we know it today nor are we seeking to reform the western scientific construct.
Our focus is the need to embrace African cultural paradigms around “ways of knowing” and expand ideas, approaches and methodologies which lay the foundation for our scientific (systematic) practices. We must understand that where we look for evidence, validation, and insight is determined by our worldview. What we accept as demonstrable evidence, confirmation of truth and the validity of information is culturally based.
Our work here at Ìrò is to utilize Indigenous African Ways of Knowing and Knowledge Systems to solve challenges faced by African people worldwide and to chart a new path forward that is based in our worldview as African people.
