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Transforming Knowledge Systems

AIIKS Students Take Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation Systems to the Global Health Stage in Germany
International Relations

AIIKS Students Take Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation Systems to the Global Health Stage in Germany

African perspectives, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), and youth-led scholarship are taking centre stage in international health discourse as emerging researchers from the African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIIKS) with its hub at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, represent the continent in Germany.

Oct 09, 2026 Read More
RECLAIMING THE SACRED CIRCLE: AIIKS MODERATES A LANDMARK LAUNCH OF DR FAYTH RUFFIN’S NAVIGATING MANIFESTATION
Blog

RECLAIMING THE SACRED CIRCLE: AIIKS MODERATES A LANDMARK LAUNCH OF DR FAYTH RUFFIN’S NAVIGATING MANIFESTATION

On Friday, 4 September 2026, the African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIIKS) with its hub at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa, facilitated a gathering of scholars, traditional practitioners, students, and community elders to confront that question. The occasion was the launch of Navigating Manifestation: A Wounded Healer’s Approach to Spiritual Consciousness by Dr Fayth Ruffin: scholar, legal mind, initiated Yoruba Lukumi priestess, diviner, and Professor at UKZN.

Sep 04, 2026 Read More
DISMANTLING ACADEMIC BIOPIRACY: HOW HARMONIZED ETHICAL PROTOCOLS AND COMMUNITY SOVEREIGNTY ARE REWRITING AFRICAN INNOVATION
International Relations

DISMANTLING ACADEMIC BIOPIRACY: HOW HARMONIZED ETHICAL PROTOCOLS AND COMMUNITY SOVEREIGNTY ARE REWRITING AFRICAN INNOVATION

Across the African continent, the traditional knowledge landscape faces an overdue structural reckoning. For generations, Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation Systems (IKIS), the foundational epistemic architectures underpinning ecological resilience, holistic healthcare, metallurgy, agriculture, and communal governance, have been treated by external actors as an open-access quarry. External researchers, pharmaceutical conglomerates, and commercial enterprises have routinely extracted community knowledge and innovation systems, codified it within Western scientific paradigms, and monetized the derived assets through individualistic patents. The originating communities were left without legal attribution, epistemic authority, or economic dividends.

Sep 03, 2026 Read More
President Cyril Ramaphosa Visits UKZN as Southern Africa Looks Towards 2050
International Relations

President Cyril Ramaphosa Visits UKZN as Southern Africa Looks Towards 2050

A Presidential Lecture on Regional Integration, Industrialisation, Youth, and the Future of African Knowledge and Innovation Systems

Aug 15, 2026 Read More
Empowering SADC Youth Through Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation Systems: AIIKS Champions a Vision for South Africa’s 2026 SADC Chairship
International Relations

Empowering SADC Youth Through Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation Systems: AIIKS Champions a Vision for South Africa’s 2026 SADC Chairship

As South Africa prepares to assume the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairship in August 2026, the country has an unprecedented opportunity to champion an African-centred development agenda rooted in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), youth innovation, industrialisation and sustainable development. This moment presents more than a leadership transition; it offers an opportunity to demonstrate how Africa’s own knowledge systems can shape resilient economies, strengthen regional cooperation and improve the wellbeing of communities across Southern Africa.

Aug 14, 2026 Read More
Beyond Colonial Narratives: The Indigenous Economies and Industrial Kingdoms of Southern Africa
International Relations

Beyond Colonial Narratives: The Indigenous Economies and Industrial Kingdoms of Southern Africa

"The economic history of Southern Africa did not begin with colonial administration, railways or imported industries. Long before European expansion into the region, African societies had developed vibrant economies, advanced industries, sophisticated governance systems and extensive trade networks that connected the continent to the wider world. Recognising this history is essential not only for correcting historical misconceptions, but also for understanding the enduring value of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in shaping Africa's economic future."

Aug 14, 2026 Read More
AIIKS: CENTERING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS INTO AFRICA'S DIGITAL FUTURE
International Relations

AIIKS: CENTERING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS INTO AFRICA'S DIGITAL FUTURE

What does an African-authored digital future look like? The African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIIKS) is exploring this question by bringing Indigenous Knowledge Systems into conversations about AI, digital innovation, and future learning. Through collaborative foresight initiatives, AIIKS is demonstrating how ancestral wisdom and emerging technologies can work together to create more inclusive, ethical, and sustainable futures for Africa.

Jun 02, 2026 Read More
Enhancing Inclusivity in South Africa’s National System of Innovation Through Indigenous Knowledge Systems
International Relations

Enhancing Inclusivity in South Africa’s National System of Innovation Through Indigenous Knowledge Systems

The DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CEIKS), as the hub of the African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIIKS), continues to advance a transformative vision for South Africa’s National System of Innovation (NSI). At the heart of this mission is the commitment to building a more inclusive, representative, and socially responsive innovation landscape that values Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) alongside conventional scientific approaches.

May 25, 2026 Read More
UKZN Students Selected for Prestigious Germany-South Africa Global Exchange Programme on Climate Change and Traditional Healing Systems
International Relations

UKZN Students Selected for Prestigious Germany-South Africa Global Exchange Programme on Climate Change and Traditional Healing Systems

UKZN Students Selected for Prestigious Germany-South Africa Global Exchange Programme on Climate Change and Traditional Healing Systems

May 03, 2026 Read More
Pt 2: Global Leadership in AI and Digitalization: Advancing Indigenous Knowledge Systems on the International Stage
International Relations

Pt 2: Global Leadership in AI and Digitalization: Advancing Indigenous Knowledge Systems on the International Stage

MUĞLA, TURKEY – As the world rapidly navigates the expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and emerging technologies, the African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIIKS), a UNESCO Category 2 Centre (C2C) with its hub at the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CEIKS) hosted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), continues to position Africa at the forefront of global conversations surrounding ethical innovation, digitalization, and societal transformation.

Apr 15, 2026 Read More
Pt 1: BEYOND THE FRONTIER: AIIKS CHAMPIONING INDIGENOUS INNOVATION AT DIGIAI SOCIETY 2026
International Relations

Pt 1: BEYOND THE FRONTIER: AIIKS CHAMPIONING INDIGENOUS INNOVATION AT DIGIAI SOCIETY 2026

MUĞLA, TURKEY – As the global community grapples with the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation, the African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIIKS) with its hub at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is set to ensure that African Indigenous Knowledge and innovation systems have a seat at the high-tech table. From 5–8 April 2026, an AIIKS delegation participated in the 2nd International Congress on Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence, and Society (DIGIAI Society 2026) in the historic city of Muğla, Turkey.

Apr 05, 2026 Read More
India-Africa Millets Symposium: Protecting Biocultural and Nutritional Heritage
Food Security

India-Africa Millets Symposium: Protecting Biocultural and Nutritional Heritage

A strategic partnership between India and East-Southern Africa explores the resilient power of millets for sustainable food systems.

Oct 24, 2024 Read More
AIIKS Experts Appointed to IPCC 7th Assessment Report Panel
Climate Innovation

AIIKS Experts Appointed to IPCC 7th Assessment Report Panel

The institute continues to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and global policy as members join the IPCC expert panel in Malaysia and Gabon.

Jun 15, 2024 Read More
AIIKS Leads 1st International Colloquium on Cross-Cultural Relations in Tanzania
International Relations

AIIKS Leads 1st International Colloquium on Cross-Cultural Relations in Tanzania

In a landmark event for African linguistic and economic sovereignty, AIIKS co-coordinated a high-level colloquium in Dar es Salaam attended by former Heads of State.

Feb 21, 2024 Read More