The practice of African indigenous education and its relevance to theory and practice of modern education in Africa

Abstract

This paper explores the concept and practice of education in traditional African societies. It attempts a critical examination of general aspects that surround African indigenous education. The writer begins by defining the concepts of education, indigenous and tradition as related to the topic. Pedagogical approaches used in the delivery of the curriculum have been addressed. The paper concludes by examining the relevance of African indigenous knowledge to modern theory and practice of education with the understanding that no study of the history of education in Africa is complete or meaningful without adequate knowledge of the traditional or indigenous educational system prevalent in Africa prior to the introduction of Islam and Christianity