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.
Upcoming Programmes
AIRKN Youth Forum Webinar Series 2026
Indigenous Youth Engagement in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Webinar
Overview:
ABOUT THE WEBINAR:
From Margins to Markets: Indigenous Youth Engagement in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
The Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIRKN) Youth Forum Webinar Series 2026 brings together young people, researchers, policymakers, and knowledge holders to explore the role of Indigenous youth in Africa’s evolving economic landscape.
This session focuses on how Indigenous youth can move from the margins to the heart of Africa’s trade and economic opportunities through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It will provide an opportunity to examine the economic opportunities available to Indigenous youth while addressing the challenges that may limit their access to markets and participation in cross-border trade.
The discussion will also consider the importance of youth voices in trade and policymaking and explore the policy changes and practical approaches needed to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous African market.
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.
Want to register?
Click here to get registered
📅 Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM GMT
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EAT
📍 Location: Online via Zoom
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.
Policy Briefs
Indigenous knowledge-based entrepreneurship and the informal Economy in Africa: Rethinking the Grammar of economic policy
Publications
Indigenous Knowledge Institutions in Africa
Manual for Community-led Participatory Action Research
How to Enhance Agency and Entrepreneurial Skillsets among the Batwa of Uganda
New book release: African EU Relation And The African Continental Free Trade Area
Blogs
Indigenous knowledge-based entrepreneurship and the informal Economy in Africa: Rethinking the Grammar of economic policy
