The Doma Indigenous Knowledge Systems at Cross-roads with Socio-ecological Economic (SEE) Developments? Reflections Through the Resilience Theory

Abstract

This chapter interrogates the question of Doma local knowledge systems’ pliability in the wake of social, economic and ecological modifications that take place in Mbire district, Zimbabwe. There are multiple fronts that exert pressure on the Doma including changes in the natural ecosystem, hence, the need for fresh lenses and reflect on how they adopt, adapt and transform. The study deployed a qualitative approach in which data were collected and generated through interviews and field observations with in the ethnographic research strategy and all the research engagements were guided by the theory of resilience which established the following positions: that the human population outspans the wildlife ecosystem which is their source of life, the Doma indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) is being impacted by the climate change turn, new economic and wildlife conservation changes, mainstream education and non-Doma spiritualties. However, the capacity of the Doma to retain their way of life is a representation of resilience expressed through adopting, adaptions and transformations. By embracing the CAMPFIRE programme, the Doma are now part of the natural ecosystems management systems that make them relevant to their lifestyle while embracing modest community-based wildlife management. Despite the set-backs characteristic of the anthropocene era and seemly being at cross roads with other imperatives, the forest remains their ‘supermarket’ as in the old, the Doma ‘civilisation’ remain relevant despite dilutions. The new economic developments are exposing them to new realities but strive to retain indigenous knowledge.