FARMING EXTINCT KNOWLEDGE IN A STEM MINDED WORLD
In the abundance of new knowledge there is always a gap. Essentially, extinct knowledge suffers peculiar void with his inheritors, including glorious conditions such knowledge nourished in the past. How can one tell? Tell-tales are everywhere. Needs and curiosity gaps are evident. Their closures can unlock knowledge, perhaps, gains in science, technology, medicine, mathematics (STEM)world.
Extinct knowledge documented in books have hairs of advantage over the unwritten. Plato, Socrates, Roman Senators, Church Fathers, School Men, and ancient philosophers. They are still evoked in modern writings in drawing comparisons.
Comparatively, what has happened to words, thoughts, arts, creativity, medicines, architecture, of great men and philosophers in your communities 300 years ago or more. Do you think their ideas were superficial, unworthy, deservedly cast away? Yet, they seep into what you call your cultures today. Some see them like dreams, a recall of someone with high fever. Unwritten recall, a great deal remaining confused, even missing. Yet, a lot can be gained from it. It may not be whole, but remember that understanding of atom changed history at a time.
In knowledge encounters, the powerful usually takes over and relegates the seemingly weak to mere strain, or nothing. When the weaker is thoroughly examined, sustained and modified, it could open doors to entirely new knowledge. Such new knowledge could become a champion. Take for example the study of genes DNA/RNA that takes new paths in the rising area of biology, and winning 2024 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine.
What about this years prize in Economics? A fellow sneers: “This year’s price should posthumously be shared with Walter Rodney.” “His dominant thought of economic history and underdevelopment and poverty are seen all over, others say ‘vaguely’ in this years award.” Read the two books(names)and see for yourself (culture, colonialism, exploitation, extractive society/leadership, institutional/bureaucratic inertia,etc) Leave the extent to the pundits to engage in their roforofo fight of how far and how deep. Think beyond what you are told. That is past and present knowledge for you. But what qualifies you to ask deep questions?
Non singers can hear songs of music!
Why do we need to recover traditional extinct knowledge now?
Have you ever queried the essence of environmental recovery advocacy? The latter has gotten a voice reaching outside, beyond Africa. Although still being argued, immediate dangers are not only palpable, they are already hitting below the belts of naysayers. When flood enters your house, you forget the “carbon ding-dong” of who generates more gas emissions with industries, those without, those in the vortex of the issue and bystanders with their conspiratorial theories. When you are forced to own a hurricane or extremely unusual seasons, environmental issue comes real to you, until it is over.
Note, there are marked differences in the two. There are always differences in a twosome. What are the differences? One is open. The other is closing very fast, even faster than you think. Knowledge of the past not documented in the next few years will be gone for ever. Extinction is a nightmare!
Do you realize that the old among us are daily going the way of all mankind. Even those in their nineties have their limitations. Their hybrid nature does not make things easy especially in obtaining ancient/ extinct data. Some of them were born in the cities without real knowledge of how things were done in the past. Some failed to learn from their parents. Some did not have the advantage of living and listening to other aboriginals.
Some cannot understand the contours of their language. How can such one be purveyors of extinct knowledge. These are not usually proponents of documentation of extinct information. They have no advantage over the young. They were never brought up in traditional villages. World view embedded in such places as extinct knowledge is unknown to them. They may “wear isiagu everyday”(Mazi O.) and adorn their thrones with Nollywood Royal caricatures. Yet, they lack the depth in traditional knowledge developed from cradle. A few original hands outside this hue, need to be harnessed in the next few years before natural clearance takes its course.
Pessimism wreaks its havoc too.
A decade ago, Mrs. Chi, Principal, of a High School asked this writer:
“Nnaa, kedu kwanu ife iji okwu ndi mbu na eme na uwa STEM?
“Don’t waste the lives of beautiful children. STEM or nothing!”
“Agreed,”
Kweri onye ocha ka onaba, ka okwu bè nke nke!
“STEM is great.”
“But ‘nothing’ can become ‘something’, over a time especially in the realm of knowledge!”
“Never overlook what looks like empty space in your life.”
What are possible areas and things to explore? Everything related to our past especially those affected by the present. Those things still without appreciable reach and aspirations sustaining pains induced by nostalgia.
For example, on health matters, why have many suddenly begin to draw attention to leaves, tree barks, oils, physical touches, stimulations and methods hitherto consigned to natives superstitions and ignorance? Why a recourse to traditional healing methods in a world of STEM? Why are collaborations with traditional healing systems ringing more than before even in rejected zones and multilateral bodies? Is it just another ruse? Or they see more being lost because many have been bamboozled that ‘our unscientific past’ holds no key for today. Do we know all about our traditional health and life style improvement? Extinct knowledge can come handy in a beautifully documented way.
Few days ago, during a serious thunderstorm, something eerily surfaced. Reminisces of after thunder strikes on trees on the way to farms interspersed my thought. During curious visits to the scene, we sometimes discover fulgurites, Oganigwe, Ose Sango of different shapes. People know of their uses especially by traditional health councils.(Ndi Dibia) Some have dismissed fulgurites simply as a collection of sand and other elements - after event of catastrophic fire without any great, scientific uses. They say so with a finality -‘nothing’. Is that all there is about it? Ask those living in areas with high thunder activities, their traditional insight on fulgurites. Then, record it. What extinct knowledge exist in this area?
What about other areas of knowledge that intersects?
Wind, water and fire in traditional setting
Insects
Festivals, Music and worship
Genealogical trees and boundaries
Infections, diseases and cures
Stories
Words and idioms (eg Sin) Njo, Alu, Mmefie)
Symbols and icons
Delicacies
Social control
Others
The above is enough for a book or academic event. But leave that for academics and do your little best. If possible write about such ‘ foolish’ finding. Your little best without documentation may not represent your best. Don’t succumb to what woke-wing youths would say:
Kedu ife eji ife ndi mbu, kachara nka n’eme?
Some have written theirs. Others are visiting their communities trying to find out. They are scouring the stem of a kind of knowledge. Could this exercise generate ideas surpassing ours. There lies the usefulness of sharing. Take action today, that is IMAIFE.
Start now.
ELEGY
Unfortunately, aspects of past knowledge can become an orphan.
Who comes to her defense?
Would it be a generation that don’t know her?
Those without a hint of her birth, growth and achievements?
Her glory that now comes in hazy outlines?
And misunderstood by many?
Aspects of past knowledge is an orphan,
For we do not know her well
Unless, her lingering, blurred features
pressuring the present and robbing its peace.
Are confronted
It remains an orphan…