IAS Book Launch: Knowledge Sovereignty Among African Cattle Herders

Confirmed panellists include:

• Dr Zeremariam Fre, Senior Teaching Fellow, Bartlett Development Planning Unit; Founder and Former Director Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (www.penhanetwork.org PENHA)
• Dr Matthew Davies, Associate Professor, Institute for Global Prosperity
• Dr Lulsegged Abebe, PENHA Board chair and former Senior Adviser, International Alert;
• Dr Keren Weitzberg, Teaching Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies

Written by 2018 Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Award winner Dr Zeremariam Fre, the first to study Beni-Amer practices, Zeremariam Fre argues for the importance of their knowledge, challenging the preconceptions that regard it as untrustworthy when compared to scientific knowledge from more developed regions. Empirical evidence suggests that there is much one could learn from the other, since elements of pastoralist technology, such as those related to animal production and husbandry, make a direct contribution to our knowledge of livestock production. It is this potential for hybridisation, as well as the resilience of the herders, at the core of the indigenous knowledge system.

Fre also argues that indigenous knowledge can be viewed as a stand-alone science, and that a community’s rights over ownership should be defended by government officials, development planners and policy makers, making the case for a celebration of the knowledge sovereignty of pastoralist communities.

Knowledge Sovereignty Among African Cattle Herders is available in a variety of formats, including as a free Open Access PDF, and in print.

All welcome. Please note that there may be photography and/or audio recording at some events and that admission is on a first come first served basis. Please follow this FAQ link for more information.