Cradle Principles and a Research Agenda on Knowledge Governance
In late February 2024, Dr Chijioke Okorie was part of a group of copyright academics, creative and user stakeholders, and computational researchers which adopted a new set of “Principles on Knowledge Governance”. The Principles seek to enable African and other Global South uses of digital research tools without promoting “data colonialism” concerns, including wrongful uses of traditional knowledge and community-held information.
The participants at the 3-day residential retreat in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa, which produced the principles included:
Allan Rocha, Federal University Rio De Janeiro
Ben Cashdan, Black Stripe Foundation
Caroline Ncube, University of Cape Town
Chidi Oguamanam, University of Ottawa
Chijioke Okorie, University of Pretoria
Denise Nicholson, Scholarly Horizons
Desmond Oriakhogba, University of Western Cape
Kyla Jade, Recreate Coalition
Sanya Samtani, Mandela Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
Sean Flynn, American University Washington College of Law
Tobias Schonwetter, University of Cape Town
Vitor Ido, South Centre
Vukosi Marivate, University of Pretoria
The Cradle Principles on Knowledge Governance and a Research Agenda are now open to comment. The Principles and Research Agenda seek to guide inquiry and policy making into how knowledge governance systems can “promote the goals of sustainable development, social justice, and human rights, including the rights of everyone to produce, receive and impart information; to create, produce, participate in and benefit from culture and science; to benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production; and of indigenous peoples to self-determination, culture, language, and participation in decision-making processes affecting their communities.” The Principles and Research Agenda were presented for comment at the Transforming Africa 2024 Conference at the University of Johannesburg, 28 February 2024. Both documents are currently open for public comment before a next revision later in the year.
