Universität zu Köln

Mamati, King'asia and Maseno, Loreen (2021). Environmental consciousness amongst indigenous youth in Kenya: The role of the Sengwer religious tradition. HTS Teol. Stud.-Theol. Stud., 77 (2). CAPE TOWN: AOSIS. ISSN 2072-8050

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Abstract

Environmental destruction has contributed to climate change, a contemporary threat to the survival of the human race. Currently, many young people across the world are increasingly and actively involved in climate action, because of the realisation that climate change will disproportionately affect them. Kenya is adversely affected by climate change, with erratic and unpredictable rainfall patterns now being the norm. Given that the youth make up a large segment of the Kenyan population, they are well placed to contribute efficaciously to combating climate change. This article relied on both primary and secondary sources of data. Interviews, participant observations, focus group discussions, articles, books and archival material were used to generate data. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to get key informants. Data were analysed thematically as per the topic under study. The article focuses on how the Sengwer indigenous community created environmental awareness and utilised their epistemological approaches to ensure a conscious mindset amongst the youth on the sustainability of the environment. In this article, we argue that the complex social systems that have religious underpinnings in traditional society play a critical role in ensuring that young people are environmentally conscious. Religion facilitates knowledge acquisition amongst the youth and shapes their understanding and consciousness of the environment. The findings indicate that indigenous communities had an effective system of ensuring that young people are conscious of their environment. Contribution: This article seeks to contribute to an instauration of indigenous knowledges and epistemologies on environmental issues. It proffers for a holistic approach of incorporating indigenous ways of creating environmental consciousness and awareness amongst the youth.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Mamati, King'asia UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Maseno, Loreen UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-580723
DOI:	10.4102/hts.v77i2.6690
Journal or Publication Title:	HTS Teol. Stud.-Theol. Stud.
Volume:	77
Number:	2
Date:	2021
Publisher:	AOSIS
Place of Publication:	CAPE TOWN
ISSN:	2072-8050
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SPIRITUALITY; AWARENESS Multiple languages Religion Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/58072