Knowledge is power and so the emergence of the so called knowledge commons[1] coupled with targeted investments by donors in Information and communication technology offers opportunities to the once marginalized actors in development discourse to effectively participate. Access to vast amounts of systematically organized information and knowledge is creating interesting and complex outcomes at the interface of formal and informal learning environments.
Development is essentially a knowledge management process and one wonders how access to western knowledge bodies for those in the developing world, are impacting on the nature of development in Africa which, currently seems to alienate the learned from those who have to live with the models they impose upon them, in the good name of development projects.[2]
Beyond the formal education systems are systems within which the majority of Africa thrives. These salient systems of knowledge development and management are the foundation upon which the formal western systems have been superimposed through a comprehensive education system. The rise of open source publications, open source learning materials and the reduction of access costs to the Internet have seen a marked change in the rules of engagement.
Africans are now questioning:
1. whether the information and knowledge available to them through the education systems, the internet and other media is appropriate for African development.
2. Are we westernizing or modernizing our Africa?
3. The black box of the knowledge in Africa is how knowledge develops and is managed and how this interfaces with the dominant western systems.
4. we would like to know who the pre-eminent social networks in Africa are and whether we know why they exist
5. Are these networks serving Africa or not
6. What has access to the new technologies done to African knowledge and wisdom
We would like to know the pre-eminent African scholars and development practitioners and whether these are taking lead in creating knowledge networks in Africa that embrace technologies such as the internet and open source learning materials to engage African society.[1] These are the internet, open source materials and many other that are available to society through membership or free access.
[2] Magaya, W and Sithole P, Subversive and Crowded Knowledge Networks: Is Africa in or out? A conference paper presented at the 2nd Biennial Knowledge Africa Conference,
