Crafting Sustainability: Indigenous Artisanship in Yantok Chair Production | InformativeBD

Jandy S. Danzalan, from the institute of the Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, Crafting Sustainability: Indigenous Artisanship in Yantok Chair Production. Entitled, Exploring the throne: Creative indigenous artisanship and notes to sustainable Yantok chair production.  This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

There is overwhelming literature that explores the Yogad Tribe community. However, scant research focuses on their Yantok chair production, specifically on how the artisans shared creativity, indigenous knowledge, and ways of facilitating creative indigenous artisanship against the ubiquitous synthetic Yantok chair in the market. While the study of creativity requires an in-depth analysis of the subject, including how cognitive innovation transpires, it is still interesting to understand and operate these constructs in the study. I plan to problematize how indigenous knowledge or practice and cognitive innovation interplay within the community of Yogad artisans in their Yantok chair production. Subscribing to creativity and cognitive innovation tenets, I conducted this focused ethnographic study that spans a month to make headway in proving the creativity of Yantok chairs. It is likewise a fitting agenda to discuss inputs that empower the community to rekindle and sustain their passion in their industry.

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 Introduction

The Yantok chair has been considered the premium rattan product of the indigenous artisanship of the Yogad Tribe, an indigenous community known for Yantok chair production in the Philippines. While there has been extensive research exploring the Yoga Tribe, especially on their language (Davis et al., 2007; Grande, 2008), rituals, and literature (Galot, 1988; Sabio, 2016; Toquero, 2008), and education (Quirante, 2018), there is a glaring absence of empirical research focusing on their shared creativity, indigenous knowledge, and ways of facilitating the creative indigenous artisanship against the dominating synthetic and imitation of the Yantok chair in the market.

Suppose one were to argue that both are creative, I advise against the sole use of subjective measures, taking the presence of a spectator (Colton et al., 2011) but rather observe creativity as "relative to a context and a norm" that necessitates both "effectiveness relative to the given norm and originality relative to the given context" (Colin, 2017, p. 29). It is equally important to ask the epistemological question of knowing creativity and what it constitutes. However, addressing this question leads to the problematization of the valuation of creativity that depends on various dimensions (Kristensen et al., 2017). For this very reason, I had much interest in exploring this subject while thinking about how this study could best contribute to resuscitating in advance the soon-to-be dying industry and intangible heritage of the Yoga Tribe in the Northern Philippines. 

Considered the 'cream of the crop' among the other rattan wood products of the Yogads, the Yantok chair has established great prominence in the province of Echague in Isabela and neighboring provinces. Like how a throne is visualized, the artisans ensure that Yantok chairs are made with magnificence and aesthetic elegance. These distinct features are not only for its architectural designs as they are likewise engineered with durability despite lightness and cultural imprints, arguably constituted by other significant aspects of cognitive innovation, indigenous knowledge, and cultural processes ((Denham and Punt, 2017). The Yantok chair production has proven its economic significance in the region. However, while the Yantok chair soared high to fame, internal and external pressing issues exist, including but not limited to the competition against the synthetic chair embodying similar designs and the decreasing young generation following the traditions of Yantok chair production.

Understanding the dynamics of indigenous knowledge, cognitive innovation, and sustainability within the Yogad artisan community warrants a deeper exploration, considering the gaps in current research. Prior studies have touched on aspects of indigenous practices (Mellegard and Boonstra, 2020), and highlighted the importance of cognitive innovation (Denham and Punt, 2017) and creativity (Colin, 2017) in various contexts. However, a comprehensive investigation specifically focused on how these elements intersect within the Yogad artisan community remains notably absent.

While some literature acknowledges the significance of indigenous knowledge in craftsmanship Mellegard and Boonstra (2020), a nuanced understanding of how it interacts with cognitive innovation to foster creativity within this community remains an unexplored terrain. Moreover, while sustainability has been discussed broadly, its application tailored to empower communities like Yogad artisans in sustaining their craft has received limited attention.

Hence, this study aims to fill this crucial gap by delving into the intricate interplay between indigenous knowledge, cognitive innovation, and sustainability within the Yogad artisan community. By examining these dynamics, the study seeks to shed light on how these factors influence and shape the creativity and longevity of traditional craftsmanship. Ultimately, the findings aim to offer practical insights and strategies that can empower the Yogad artisans to revitalize and sustain their passion and industry.

Reference

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Colton S, Charnley J, Pease A. 2011. Computational creativity theory: The FACE and IDEA descriptive models. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Computational Creativity, 90–95. https://computationalcreativity.net/iccc2011/proceedings/index.html

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Denham SL, Punt M. 2017. Cognitive innovation: A view from the bridge. Leonardo 50(2), 184–185. DOI: 10.1162/LEON_a_01386.

Galot GL. 1988. Ang panitikang bayan ng mga Yogad: Isang pagsusuri. Saint Mary’s University.

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Kristensen M, Loesche F, Maranan D. 2017. We are navigating Cognitive Innovation. AVANT The Journal of The Philosophical-Interdisciplinary Vanguard 8(Special Issue), 45-55. DOI: 10.26913/80s02017.0111.0005

Maranan D. 2017. Response to “Academic Carelessness, Bootstrapping, and the Cybernetic Investigator.” AVANT The Journal of The Philosophical-Interdisciplinary Vanguard 8(Special Issue), 43. DOI: 10.26913/80s02017.0111.0004

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Mellegard V, Boonstra WJ. 2020. Craftsmanship as a carrier of indigenous and local ecological knowledge: Photographic insights from Sámi Duodji and archipelago fishing. Society & Natural Resources 33(10), 1252-1272. DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2020.1729911

Punt M, Denham S. 2017. Cognitive Innovation, Irony, and Collaboration. AVANT The Journal of The Philosophical-Interdisciplinary Vanguard 8(Special Issue), 17-23. DOI: 10.26913/80s02017.0111.0002

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Sabio DGS. 2016. Yoga folk songs of Echague: Reflections of life and love. Paper presented at the Asian Conference on Literature, Librarianship & Archival Science, Kobe, Japan. https://tinyurl.com/YogadFolk

Toquero ES. 2005. Yoga rituals and festivals in Isabela: Their implication to development. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The University of La Salette, Santiago City, Isabela.

Wiggins GA. 2006. Searching for computational creativity. New Generation Computing 24(3), 209–222. DOI: 10.1007/BF03037332

Source : Exploring the throne:Creative indigenous artisanship and notes to sustainable Yantok chair production 

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Oyster Nut: Ethnobotanical Insights from Northern Tanzania | Informativebd

Philipina F. Shayo,  Anna C. Treydte, and Ernest R. Mbega from the different institute of the Tanzania, Germany, and Sweden. wrote a research article about, Oyster Nut: Ethnobotanical Insights from Northern Tanzania, entitled, Ethnobotany of Oyster nut (Telfairia pedata) in Northern Tanzania. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Telfairia pedata (Sims) Hook is an important native climber plant commonly grown in East Africa. It bears nuts which are eaten either raw or cooked and is consumed mostly by expectant mothers, and as cooking oil. The survey was conducted between September 2019 to February 2020 in Sambaa, Meru, and Pare communities of Lushoto, Bumbuli, Arumeru and Same Districts, Northern Tanzania to assess the ethnobotany of T. pedata from a sample of 346 respondents using semi-structured questionnaires. Results indicate that, 21% of respondents used T. pedata for cooking with other staple foods while 18% claimed that the nuts are used by pregnant and lactating mothers for medicinal and breast milk stimulation and nine (9) percent indicated that the nuts are used for cultural and ritual purposes. Despite its importance, the cultivation of T. pedata in the study area is declining and the gap why such decline is experienced needs to be answered in further studies. Secondly, respondents within the 36-50 age groups reported the greatest diversity of uses of T. pedata 51% compared with those aged below 36 years old 21% signifying that the traditional knowledge known by younger aged groups may be declining. Thus, this gap of traditional knowledge between the groups should be addressed in order to improve utilization and conservation of this seriously declining yet important nut in the study area and other places of Tanzania.

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Introduction

Local societies are known to have ethnobotany knowledge that is inherited from one generation to another through word of mouth on economic, medical, ecological and cultural benefits (Hamilton, 2003) (Young, 2007) (Tamalene et al., 2016). Ethnobotany assists in explaining utilization and preservation of the plants biodiversity thus maintaining local ecological systems and culture (Reid et al., 2009).

Telfairia pedata (Smiths ex Sim) Hook (Fig. 1), is Cucurbitaceae family from a small genus of flowering plant which is native in Tanzania including Zanzibar Island and other countries of Africa including Uganda and northern Mozambique (I. A. Ajayi et al., 2004)(Aregheore, 2012). It is also well known by its local names in regions of Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Tanga and Ruvuma as "mkweme", "ngoimee" or "ikwemee" and "makunguu", “nhahani” and so forth. It is a woody dioecious climber with coiled tendrils which bears squash like fruits containing nutritious oil seeds and grows well in well drained loamy soils (Van der Vossen & Mkamilo, 2007), Fig. 1. The plant is a facultative perennial which is grown in slightly shaded and mulched areas but not damp soils and also creeps on host trees, live hedges or staked on wooden framework (Ajibade et al., 2006; Grubben, 2008; Paul & Yavitt, 2011). T. pedata nuts are rich in oil content, fat, protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, minerals including magnesium, phosphorous (Akoroda, 1990b; Mwakasege et al., 2021).

In Tanzania, ethnobotanical facets and uses of T. pedata have not yet been adequately documented specially in terms of local people’s livelihoods, how it used, cultivated, marketed, preserved and its conservation measures. Among local plants long used by the Pare, Chagga, Sambaa, and Meru tribes, the T. pedata is one which is harvested from the home gardens and agroforestry systems (trees mixed with annual crops) as a source of food, for cultural rituals and medicine. In these communities, traditional knowledge about T. pedata has been passed down and applied for generations (Ajayi et al., 2004; Odiaka et al., 2008). 

Therefore, this study aims at documenting and collating knowledge on the indigenous uses of T. pedata nuts and its cultivation practices in order to support the consumption and utilization of the plant in a sustainable manner, while providing benefits to the local communities through conservation of traditional knowledge. We examined the ethnobotany of T. pedata in northern Tanzania with the expectations that, the socio-demographic characteristic on T. pedata differ across the study sites; there were different ethnobotanical uses of T. pedata across the study area; areas where T. pedata were cultivated differ across study area with gender; perception of abundance of T. pedata differ across the study area and T. pedata nuts were stored in different methods across the sturdy area.

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Source : Ethnobotany of Oysternut (Telfairia pedata) in Northern Tanzania

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