Introduction to This Special Topic "Reconsidering Local Knowledge and Beyond"

Abstract

This chapter's purpose is to describe the series of research trends known as "local knowledge, " or ZAIRAICHI, which means local knowledge in Japanese, from 2007 to the present using the three keywords "LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, " "RECONSIDERING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, " and "BEYOND." We aim to position ourselves within the series of research trends. AFRICAN LOCAL KNOWLEDGE is practical and empirical knowledge formed when people interact with natural and social environments (Shigeta, 2013). This paper considers African local knowledge by establishing two themes: social relations that form African local knowledge and the relationship between African local knowledge and livelihood activities. While continuing to accumulate several case studies based on long-term fieldwork, we have also begun to work with residents to create new technologies and techniques based on these findings.