Johannesburg — The theme of the third biennial Knowledge Management Africa (KMA) conference, which opened Monday in the capital of Senegal, is lofty - "knowledge to reposition Africa in the world economy". But the aim is more down-to-earth: to find ways to apply vital information to the basic question of improving the lives of Africa's people.
KMA is an initiative of the Development Bank of South Africa, which seeks to build networks that facilitate the sharing and use of knowledge across Africa. This takes place via an online hub linking five regional chapters on the continent - each chapter has a particular focus; the West African hub focuses on technologies for development for example - as well as regular conferences and meetings.
"Networking takes place at the continental level, through KMA chapters," Dr Snowy Khoza, the initiative's chairperson, told IPS ahead of the conference opening. "Individual members can request or respond to issues by posting them online. Conferences create an environment for interaction at a personal level."
Researchers and practitioners will present on a broad spectrum of issues, ranging from safeguarding intellectual property rights and indigenous African plants like aloe vera to discussions of the importance of open access to scientific and research publications and strengthening rural communities' responses to climate change around Lake Victoria.
"Our activities and programmes are formulated to support and empower communities in Africa. For example, the aloe vera plant which is used for medicinal purposes: we need to review and acknowledge the way Africans have used this plant for generations. We need to support the notion that indigenous African knowledge can be a solution to the continent's problems," says Khoza.
The emphasis on building, enhancing and applying knowledge at the local level using various technologies runs parallel to similar initiatives such as AgCommons, which focuses on providing location-specific information to smallholder farmers to help them make better decisions.
One scheme in Uganda uses cellphones to get precise information about crop diseases and appropriate measures against them to farmers, while allowing farmers to report symptoms of diseases to the authorities - simultaneously improving data collection and giving farmers advice and early warning and advice on how to avoid potentially devastating losses.
Another project poised to begin later this year will put very high resolution images taken by satellite in the hands of smallholder farmers in four West African countries. The pictures reveal the presence of trees, as well as "stress pockets" - associated with depleted soils - and areas of high productivity.
"My belief is that farmers in most cases are the experts, and they know their land very well," says Pierre C. Sibiry Traore, a scientist with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics. Traore concedes that small farmers already know almost everything that these images show, yet they have shown keen interest in the printouts.
"I'm tempted to think that maybe the value of the information is not at the level of an individual farmer, but more at the smallholder community level, where they can use it as arbitration tool, or as a way to deploy new resources," he says.
Traore envisions the information being used to highlight issues of land tenure, serve as a tool in conflict resolution or guide implementation of conservation measures like contour-ridge tillage, which maximises water retention and protects soil from erosion, but requires resources and expertise beyond the reach of an individual farmer.
The pictures could both clarify the potential of joint efforts among neighbouring smallholders and provide hard data that will help them make their case to find external support for such projects.
The conference in Dakar, however, has a strong focus on looking within the continent for solutions.
"The idea behind KMA is to make use of African skills for development, instead of only seeking assistance from America or European professionals. There is an online database, 'Who's Who in Africa', which provides contact details of African experts in the fields of media, medicine, technology, engineering, law and other sectors," says Khoza.
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BLACK AFRICAN INVENTORS AND THEIR INVENTIONS We Black Africans Can Be Self-Sufficient . Here are some major Black Africans who have had an impact on the world With their initiative These are INVENTORS . This Listing includes The Inventors Name, Their Invention and in some cases the date the invention was recognized and the inventions U.S. patent number.
* Sarah Boone - IRONING BOARD - April 26, 1892
* John A. Burr - LAWN MOWER
* Marie V. Brittan Brown - HOME SECURITY SYSTEM - Dec 2, 1969
* Buridge & Marshman - TYPEWRITER
* George Carruthers - X-RAY MACHINE
* George Washington Carver - PEANUT BUTTER - PAINTS PAINT STAINS ETC
* John Clark - TRACK ATHLETE TRAINER
* W.A. Dietz - SHOE
* Joseph Dickinson - PLAYER PIANO - ARM FOR RECORD PLAYER
* P.B. Downing - POSTAL LETTER BOX
* Charles R. Drew - BLOOD PLASMA STORAGE SYSTEM
* T. Elkins - TOILET (COMMODE)
* Robert Flemming Jr. - GUITAR
* Cathleen McCoy Garrett SIREN - HORN LIGHT INDICATOR
* George F. Grant - GOLF TEE
* J. Gregory - MOTOR
* Joanna Hardin - KEYBOARD STAND - Feb 23, 1993
* Michael Harney - LANTERN
* Solomon Harper - THERMO(HEATED) HAIR CURLERS
* Augustus Jackson - ICE CREAM
* B.F. Jackson - GAS BURNER
* H.A. Jackson - KITCHEN TABLE
* Ruane Jeter - DIGITAL TOASTER - April 14, 1987
* Isaac R. Johnson - BICYCLE FRAME
* John A. Johnson - WRENCH
* Lonnie Johnson - SUPER SOAKER WATERGUN
* P. Johnson - EYE PROTECTOR (GOGGLES)
* W. Johnson - EGG BEATER
* Frederick M. Jones - DEFROSTER - REFRIGERATION CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONER
* Jones & Long - BOTTLE CAPS
* John H. Jordan - CLOTHES DRESSER
* Mary B. Kenner - SANITARY BELT (TAMPONS) - May 15, 1956
* Mary B. Kenner - SANITARY BELT (WATERPROOF) - April 14, 1959
* Mary B. Kenner - BATHROOM TISSUE HOLDER - Nov 19, 1982
* Mary B. Kenner - BACKWASHER ( BATHTUB OR SHOWER MOUNTED) - July 29,1987
* Lewis Latimer & Nichols - ELECTIC LAMP
* W.A. Lavalette - PRINTING PRESS
* F.W. Leslie - ENVELOPE SEAL
* Maurice W. Lee PRESSURE COOKER
* A.L. Lewis - WINDOW CLEANER
* John L. Love - PENCIL SHARPENER
* Tony J. Marshall - FIRE EXTINGUISHER
* Alexander Miles - ELEVATOR
* Jan E. Matzeliger - SHOE LASTING MACHINE
* W.A. Martin - LOCK
* Garrett A. Morgan - GAS MASK - Traffic Signal
* Lydia Newman - HAIR BRUSH - Nov 15, 1898
* Alice H. Parker - HEATING FURNACE - Dec 23, 1919
* J.F. Pickering - AIR SHIP (BLIMP)
* Purdy & Sadgwar - FOLDING CHAIR
* W.B. Purvis - FOUNTAIN PEN
* L.P. Ray - DUST PAN
* W.H. Richardson - BABY BUGGY
* Walter Sammons - PRESSING COMB
* G.T. Sampson - CLOTHES DRYER
* Dewey Sanderson - URINALYSIS MACHINE
* Ralph Sanderson - HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBER
* S.R. Scottron - CURTAIN ROD
* Adolph Shamms - MULTI -STAGE ROCKET
* .W. Smith - LAWN SPRINKLER
* Richard B. Spikes - AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT
* J. Standard - REFRIGERATOR
* T.W. Stewart - MOP
* Maxine Snowden - RAIN HAT - 1983
* Theora Stephens - PRESSING & CURLING IRON
* Rufus J. Weaver - STAIR -CLIMBING WHEELCHAIR
* Paul E. Williams - HELICOPTER
* J.B. Winters - FIRE ESCAPE LADDER
* Granville T. Woods - Telephone System Apparatus Oct 11, 1887 Patent # 371, 241
* Granville T. Woods - Roller Coaster
* Granville T. Woods - Auto Air Brake - June 10, 1902 - Patent # 701, 98
* Granville T. Woods - Telegraph Transmission Devices - Dec 2, 1884 Patents # - 308, 816 (7)
* Thanks to The Black Inventors Museum *
* Address : P.O. Box 76128 - Los Angeles , Calif. (90076)
* Phone (310) 859-4602)
* Director : Ghanaian Mr. Hamza Salifa
* Major Contributor of Information : SEESTAH Imahkus Nzinga Okofo
OUR DEEPEST FEAR By Marianne Williamson
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesnt Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Wont Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
Its Not Just In Some Of Us; Its In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
[NOTE BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WONT STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com]
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]
Daniel 11: 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with FLATTERIES.
#1 Dont Be tricked Into Allowing Yourself And Your Families To be Quietly Killed By These So-Called Vaccinations.
#2 VACCINATIONS FRAUD AND DANGERS Vaccine Safety Manual By Neil Z. Miller "for Concerned Familiesand Health Practitioners" ( 548 pages) [http://thinktwice.com/ ]
#3 Check Out This Directive : Called The Georgia GuideStones
[The Agenda Of The Antichrist aka The Georgia Guidestones] 10 POINTS LIKE THE 10 HORNS OR RELIGIONS OF THE BEAST
1) MAINTAIN HUMANITY'S POPULATION UNDER 500 MILLION IN PERPETUAL BALANCE WITH NATURE
2) GUIDE REPRODUCTION WISELY IMPROVING FITNESS AND DIVERSITY
3) UNITE HUMANITY WITH A LIVING NEW LANGUAGE
4) RULE PASSION FAITH TRADITION AND ALL THINGS WITH TEMPERED REASON
5) PROTECT PEOPLE AND NATIONS WITH FAIR LAWS AND JUST COURTS
6) LET ALL NATIONS RULE INTERNALLY RESOLVING EXTERNAL DISPUTES IN A WORLD COURT
7) AVOID PETTY LAWS AND USELESS OFFICIALS
8) BALANCE PERSONAL RIGHTS WITH SOCIAL DUTIES.
9) PRIZE TRUTH BEAUTY LOVE SEEKING HARMONY WITH THE INFINITE
10) BE NOT A CANCER ON THE EARTH LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE
[Revelations 13:1] And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having 7 heads (Kings) and 10 horns (Religious Kingdoms), and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy
#4 - Here is evidence of Point 2 of the Georgia Guidestones on Reproduction . Don't be deceived : [http://www.infowars.com/?p=7259]
Daniel 11: 14 (Babylon see Rev 17 & 18 - Jer 50 & 51 ) And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the ROBBERS of your people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but THEY SHALL FALL.
#5
[WHO'S AFRAID OF BEING THEMSELVES ALL THE TIME ? ]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesnt Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Wont Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
Its Not Just In Some Of Us; Its In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
[NOTE BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WONT STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
WAKE UP !!! STAY UP !!!
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] Life Is A Game. Have Fun . Luke 18:17 - Isaiah 11:6