ASITIBA A. OKUTU
African indigenous education was value – based informal education, anchored on traditional religion, morals and ethics aimed at molding an individual’s character to enable him or her to grow and become a morally upright citizen. It enabled an individual to fit well in his or her community and society at large. Values and attitudes inculcated in an individual were very useful in attaining and maintaining peace across cultures. Youth were taught these values informally among their communities by religiously practicing what they were taught by their elders. Parents played a crucial role in this case. They also learnt through apprenticeship. Initiation ceremonies marked the main learning sessions for the youth. There is need to harness this indigenous knowledge to help us tackle some of the challenges currently bedeviling our society. This paper was as a result of a study conducted among the initiates in Hamisi Sub-County. The purpose of this study was to assess the role that African indigenous education can play in bringing about social harmony in our society, especially in tackling the challenges of moral decay among our youth and our environmental degradation. It used a case of male initiation practice of the Tiriki community found in Hamisi Sub – County of Vihiga County in Kenya. It was guided by Social Learning Theory. A total of 350 respondents participated. It used qualitative approach. Observation of the exercise during circumcision seasons, interviews and focused group discussions were used to collect data. Snowballing was also used to identify some of the participants. The study established that initiates went through thorough training during the initiation process. They learnt various values such as: honesty, being responsible, courageous, respectful, among others. All these were important values that brought about social harmony. More so, circumcision sites like forests are jealously guarded, hence, conserving the ecosystem
