Researching African Indigenous Population in Contemporary Times: What Scholars and Practitioners Need to Know

Abstract

Researching indigenous people has been characterized by debate on what indigenous knowledge systems and epistemologies should guide the research. This debate is a result of limited knowledge of who indigenous people are, and what epistemologies, philosophies, cultural values and practices that inform their physical and spiritual beliefs. There are questions on how the indigenous research paradigm and research methodology can help to provide quality research outcomes. However, these questions have deterred emerging scholars and practitioners who are interested in researching indigenous people. This chapter aimed to advance awareness of what scholars and practitioners need to know about researching indigenous people in contemporary times. An exploratory approach was used to identify, describe and discuss information from diverse publishing sites to build holistic knowledge for scholars and practitioners. The concepts that the scholars and practitioners can refer to, for an appropriate understanding of indigenous people were defined. Then, considered why the research on the indigenous population by scholars and practitioners matters. The chapter presented and discussed the indigenous research paradigm and research methodology suitable for the indigenous setting. The chapter also explored relevant human rights frameworks and the competency to guide scholars and practitioners in an indigenous setting.