Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN) – The Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network was created to undertake research geared towards identifying, recentering and harnessing Indigenous knowledges in Africa.

Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network

We are dedicated to uncovering, amplifying, and applying Africa’s rich Indigenous knowledge systems from deep community wisdom and traditional practices to innovative solutions for today’s social, economic, and environmental challenges

News

Discover how Carleton University’s AIKRN initiative is re-centring Indigenous knowledge to drive entrepreneurship and sustainable development across Africa.

Podcasts

Explore our podcast section to listen to powerful discussions and expert insights on Indigenous knowledge, culture, and innovation across Africa.

Events

Stay informed about conferences, workshops, webinars, and community gatherings focused on Indigenous research.

Blogs

Visit our blog for thought-provoking articles, research and stories that explore the relevance of Indigenous knowledge systems today.

Upcoming Programmes

The Next Series is in the Works

Indigenous Youth Engagement in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Shaping the Future Together:

The core mission of the Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIRKN) is to advance research that explores and integrates Indigenous Knowledge Systems into Africa’s contemporary economic and social development. To support this, we are planning a suite of high-level engagement opportunities for established and emerging researchers, policymakers, and community knowledge holders.

The Next Series of Engagements is in the Works

Our research committee, including key leading voices and researchers associated with Carleton University’s Institute of African Studies and collaborators like Professor Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, are currently curating the next phase of our research outreach. We are focused on practical application, capacity building, and collaborative policy analysis.

Stay tuned for announcements on upcoming opportunities, including:

International Symposia & Research Conferences: Showcasing groundbreaking research on topics like AfCFTA, climate resilience, and sustainable economies through an indigenous knowledge lens.
Specialized Methodological Workshops: Advanced training for researchers on ethical indigenous research methods and community-based participatory models.
Policy Dialogue Series: Deep-dive sessions connecting research findings directly to continental and regional policymaking bodies.
Collaborative Grants & Funding Calls: Connecting network members to unique opportunities for joint research projects.

Participation is free and open to anyone interested in indigenous knowledge, environmental resilience, language, and community research. Similar AIKRN webinars aim to create dialogue around indigenous knowledge systems and sustainable development solutions.

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To ensure you don’t miss announcements for specific research calls, symposia, or development workshops, please keep your engagement active.

Highlights From African Indigenuos knowledge Research Network 2nd Annual Conference

The Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN), in collaboration with the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University, hosted its 2nd Annual International Conference in Ottawa, Canada. Convening over 750 participants across 40 countries, this multi-day hybrid event brought together global scholars, community leaders, youth innovators, and policymakers to address critical development challenges by re-centering African Indigenous wisdom and local solutions.

Under the overarching theme “Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Transformative Wisdom: International Perspectives,” the conference explored how generations of lived experience and traditional practices can inform modern policy, economic frameworks, and social innovation.