Young South Africans Are Keeping Traditional Science Alive, and They Use It With Modern Knowledge…

For a long time, people have treated traditional knowledge as something from the past. Many assumed it belonged mainly to older generations, rural villages, or people with little schooling. New findings from South Africa suggest that this view is outdated.

A national survey by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) shows that many South Africans do not choose between traditional and modern science. Instead, they hold both at once. Young and well-educated black South Africans lead this trend.

The results arrive at a fitting time. South Africa celebrates Heritage Month each September, and these findings give the country good reason to rethink what heritage means today.

What Is Traditional Science and Technology?

Traditional science and technology (S&T) refers to knowledge that communities build and pass down over many generations. Long before modern laboratories existed, people in southern Africa developed detailed systems to survive and thrive. These systems covered farming, healing, weather patterns, and the careful use of natural resources.

Importantly, this knowledge was never static. Communities tested it, checked it, and improved it through daily contact with the land. As a result, people were able to live sustainably within their ecosystems for centuries.

The survey used a simple definition. It described traditional knowledge as skills and understanding handed from one generation to the next within a community.

About the SAPRS Survey

The study is called the South African Public Relationship with Science (SAPRS) Survey. Researchers carried it out in 2022, and it covered a nationally representative group of people.

How Much Do South Africans Know About Traditional Science?

Overall, the numbers are encouraging. About two-thirds of South Africans said they had at least some knowledge of traditional S&T. Even more said they were interested in it.

Notably, interest is higher than knowledge. In other words, many people want to learn more than they currently know. This gap points to an untapped demand for reliable information.

Mixed Views on Medicine and Healers

Attitudes towards the benefits of traditional S&T were more complex. People felt fairly positive about its role in farming and in improving quality of life. However, they were more cautious about traditional medicine and traditional healers.

Still, caution is not the same as rejection. Researchers stressed that reservations about certain areas do not mean people dismiss traditional knowledge as a whole.

Who Values Traditional Science the Most?

Views varied across different groups of people. Some groups showed noticeably stronger belief in the value of traditional S&T.

Interestingly, active learning followed a different pattern. While positive feelings were common among less-educated groups, younger and better-educated people were the ones most actively seeking out knowledge.

A Closer Look at Black South Africans

Black South African adults showed 15% to 20% higher knowledge and interest in traditional S&T than other population groups. They also expressed stronger belief in its benefits.

This group makes up roughly 82% of the national population. For that reason, the researchers examined it in more detail. Even so, they made clear that interest in traditional knowledge is not limited to one group. In fact, other population groups also showed solid knowledge and interest.

The Rise of a “Dual Framework”

Perhaps the most striking finding concerns young, educated black South Africans. Rather than choosing one system over the other, they treat traditional and modern science as partners. Each helps solve different problems in modern life.

For example, a young person may trust a family herbal remedy while also visiting a clinic. Similarly, they may value indigenous farming wisdom and still rely on modern healthcare.

Why Poorer Households Rely More on Traditional Remedies

There is a clear practical side to these findings. Wealthier people showed more interest, yet poorer households used traditional healers and remedies more often. Cost, access, and social ties all play a part.

Likewise, people in informal settlements leaned more on traditional medicine. In these areas, formal health services can be harder to reach. Consequently, traditional remedies often become the first and most practical option.

How Can South Africa Promote Traditional Knowledge?

The researchers see a real opportunity here. They argue that traditional S&T should be presented as a complementary system rather than a rival to modern science. To achieve this, they suggest several steps.

First, stop framing it as “modern versus traditional.” Science communication should show how the two systems can work together.

Second, engage supportive groups. Young, educated people in cities already accept both systems. Therefore, they can champion traditional knowledge in schools, research, and policy.

Third, reach groups with lower interest. Older people, rural residents, and those with less schooling need tailored outreach. The same applies to other population groups.

Fourth, close the gap between interest and knowledge. Since curiosity outpaces understanding, there is room for trustworthy content. Digital media, public campaigns, and school curricula can all help.

Finally, showcase real success stories. Projects that combine indigenous knowledge with clinical research deserve attention. One example is the work of Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa at the University of the Free State.

Heritage and Progress Go Hand in Hand

These findings challenge an old and widely held belief. Traditional knowledge is not disappearing. On the contrary, younger generations are reviving it, testing it, and blending it with modern practice.

Moreover, like modern science, traditional knowledge can go through careful research and development. It can lead to new products, services, and benefits for communities. Above all, the communities that hold this knowledge should be recognised as it is studied and developed.

South Africa’s young people are showing a clear path forward. For them, heritage and progress are not opposites. They carry both, side by side.

SOURCE

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the SAPRS Survey?
The South African Public Relationship with Science Survey is a national study by the Human Sciences Research Council. In 2022, it gathered views from 5,960 South Africans about their relationship with science, including traditional knowledge.

2. How many South Africans are interested in traditional science?
About 68% of South Africans said they were interested in traditional science and technology. Meanwhile, 62% said they were at least somewhat knowledgeable about it.

3. Do young South Africans reject traditional knowledge?
No. In fact, young and educated black South Africans showed the highest knowledge and interest. They tend to use traditional and modern science together rather than choosing one.

4. Why do poorer households rely more on traditional remedies?
Affordability, easier access, and strong social and cultural ties make traditional healers and home remedies a practical choice. This is especially true in informal settlements, where formal health services can be harder to reach.

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