Indigenous Knowledge System and Local Adaptation Strategies to Flooding in Coastal Rural Communities of Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examines the nature and types of traditional and Indigenous knowledge systems used in the management of ocean (cold) and river (warm) flooding in some selected coastal rural communities in Nigeria. The study further identifies certain traditional and local engineering approaches to manage flood disasters at the community and household levels. Focus group discussion, participant observation methods, and anecdotal sources were used to collect data from the selected rural coastal communities in Nigeria. The data collected were context analyzed to provide information for the discussion. It was observed that the communities have undocumented knowledge of local meteorologies which are based on observation and traditional practices and belief systems. The Ilajes, Itshekiris and Ijaws who live in the study area have specific local meteorology that enable them to predict flooding in real time, and on a seasonal and long term basis. The lifestyle, tradition and religious belief systems of the rural coastal dwellers revolve around excess water management from the distributaries of river Niger and the Atlantic Ocean. The paper posited that a sustainable adaptation mechanism should take into considerations the local adaptation strategies with the view to modernizing them in the rural coastal communities in Nigeria and other areas.