Indigenous Knowledge Management in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Reflection on the Emerging Technologies and Development Strategies in Tanzania

Developing countries are witnessing an increased use of indigenous knowledge (IK) products by people of all backgrounds who use them for various purposes including maintenance of human health. In recognizing the importance of indigenous knowledge, several initiatives have been taken by governments. This chapter explores the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and its emerging technologies on the management of indigenous knowledge in Tanzania. It also discusses the background information on Tanzania and its indigenous knowledge. This chapter argues that Tanzania has made considerable progress in recognizing the value of indigenous knowledge for competitiveness advantages, but more needs to be done to address the identified challenges in managing such knowledge in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This chapter offers recommendations on how to harness the potential of the 4IR to the management of indigenous knowledge. The conclusion explains that emerging technologies have not been sufficiently and effectively used in managing indigenous knowledge as has been done in education, banking, and other industrial sectors. Some strategies are discussed to address these challenges in managing indigenous knowledge including capacity building through education to all indigenous knowledge stakeholders.