Mdumiseni Nxumalo ([e-mail])

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ZULUS INDIGENOUS ASTRONOMY CRITICAL EVALUATION
OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF STARS IN THE ZULU
CULTURE
Mdumiseni Nxumalo (zwide_at_webmail.co.za) UNIVERSITY
OF ZULULAND SCIENCE CENTRE - SOUTH AFRICA
CAP 2007 IN ATHENS GREECE
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THE INFLATABLE
Contact Mdumiseni zwide_at_webmail.co.za
You can google unizul science centre OR go
through SAASTEC
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INTRODUCTION

• Old Zulu people wondered about night skies. They
  had different star-lore and myths as it is across
  world cultures.
• Star-lore and myths were and still are
  stimulators of interest in stars (astronomy).
• However, some of these myths have led to
  misconceptions known as bad astronomy (Plait,
  2002). Bad astronomy results from more than just
  that but according to Plait modern star movies
  need attention of astronomy communicators.
• Research involving elderly people identified
  important indigenous knowledge of the nature of
  stars. Such knowledge was used in the yearly
  prediction of the seasons. For instance some
  plants and crops behaviors were found to
  coincide with some events in the sky. The
  knowledge was useful in the prehistoric means of
  agriculture.
• This knowledge is facing extinction for it was
  not effectively passed on.

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INSPIRATION
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• Running planetarium shows -audience asking
  questions on pre-knowledge
• Father told stories (died in March)
  generational gap
• Learners attending planetarium shows showing
  knowledge of the night sky

We must find the connection with modern astronomy
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IKS Relevance

• Keys to Education and Scientific Literacy
• SCIENCE LITERACY - science is NOT "common sense"
  TO MOST To change this view of science, one
  must communicate science that is relevant to a
  population and its culture.
• RELEVANCY - is a Foundation for LEARNERS - to
  understand real life situations and problems.
• I.K.S. - aids in scientific relevancy to a
  population and its culture

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Relevancy

• Relevancy allows Learners to be actively drawn
  into seeking information to understand their real
  life situations and problems
• Relevancy is a reference to an already existing
  piece of knowledge or experience.
• All people seek relevance for their
  "understanding.
• I.K.S. are a centerpiece to the seeking of
  Relevancy for the rural learner

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Aims of the presentation

• Bring indigenous knowledge of stars to astronomy
  communicators attention
• Encourage identification and documentation of
  indigenous knowledge of stars (indigenous
  astronomy).
• Encourage more scientific research that will lead
  to critical evaluation of indigenous astronomy
  with an aim of identifying its value towards the
  development of astronomy education.

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Identified Problems

• The indigenous knowledge system (IKS) is often
  misinterpreted, yet it is a good and inspiring
  approach in communicating astronomy (like in any
  other field of science and technology).
• It is vital to asses the existing indigenous
  knowledge of stars. Some knowledge and beliefs
  about stars is correct, some are incorrect or
  distorted and faces extinction if not identified,
  documented and preserved.

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Facts and Assumptions

• 1. Fact There exists indigenous knowledge of
  stars among the elderly people in Zululand.
• 2. Assumption Some indigenous knowledge of
  stars is correct some is incorrect and or
  distorted
• 3. Fact Indigenous knowledge of stars was not
  effectively passed on and faces extinction.
• 4. Assumption Indigenous knowledge of stars is
  useful as a foundation for teaching modern
  astronomy.

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Significance of IKS in Astronomy

• There must be dialogue about integration of the
  IKS component into astronomy education.
• IKS is good in that people will easily identify
  with the subject and thus interest will be
  stimulated.
• The findings about indigenous astronomy would
  facilitate peoples ownership of the astronomy
  subject across different cultures.
• Would improve peoples understanding of
  astronomy.
• Contribution to South Africas involvement in the
  International Year of Astronomy 2009 vision
  (www.iya2009).
• Documentation of the findings would help to
  preserve the indigenous knowledge of the stars.
• Lastly, the study would contribute to the IKS
  component of astronomy education is South Africa.

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Significance cont

• However limited research has been undertaken to
  identify and document the existing indigenous
  knowledge of stars.
• Further, some of the indigenous knowledge of
  stars is correct, some is incorrect or distorted
  and faces extinction. Hence there is a need for a
  study to identify and document the existing
  knowledge of stars.

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Local peoples interviews

• Interviews of locals including an elderly person
  showed that
• There was scientific (systematic) knowledge and
  not just myths and beliefs.
• There were beliefs and myths about stars
• There were misconceptions

video
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Examples of findings

• Scientific/ systematic
• approximation of nights progress,
• seasons (sky activities relating to plants),
• looking at a star during the day,
• star patterns (umthala and isilimela),
• wind directions
• Beliefs and myths
• shooting stars and meteor showers related to
  deaths of people
• Misconceptions
• seashell believed to be coming from the moon

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Future Plans

• Currently involved in research into indigenous
  astronomy
• Planned Zulu Hut Planetarium (expansion on
  current mobile planetarium)
• IKS Exhibition at UZ Sc. Centre

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END
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
zwide_at_webmail.co.za