Indigenous Professions of Southern Africa
Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Futures
Indigenous Professions of Southern Africa
Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Futures
Our journey to building a C-IKS economy
Our humble beginnings
Our humble beginnings
Our humble beginnings
In 2008, a group of passionate Indigenous leaders, practitioners, and professionals came together in response to a tragic and urgent crisis: the deaths of young initiates during sacred cultural rites. This moment sparked a series of deep and ongoing engagements focused on the broader wellbeing of rural communities under Indigenous authori
In 2008, a group of passionate Indigenous leaders, practitioners, and professionals came together in response to a tragic and urgent crisis: the deaths of young initiates during sacred cultural rites. This moment sparked a series of deep and ongoing engagements focused on the broader wellbeing of rural communities under Indigenous authority. It became clear that the prevailing economic system was not working fairly or inclusively, especially for Indigenous peoples in Africa.
Our story
Our humble beginnings
Our humble beginnings
We set out to drive a systemic shift grounded in the values of the Camagu Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CIKS), a transformation inspired by ancestral wisdom, rooted in ethical collaboration. We focused on practical solutions for sustainable development. From this vision, the Indigenous Professions of South Africa (IPROSA) was established to champion wellness and sustainability through C-IKS.
Our Community
Our humble beginnings
Our Community
Our community is at the heart of everything we do. We’re proud to have built a vibrant and inclusive network, bringing together Indigenous leaders and practitioners, academics, researchers, policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and allies, united in advancing Indigenous knowledge, scarce skills, and modern tech, to drive wellbeing, economic opportunity, and thriving African communities.
About The IKS Economy
For generations, Indigenous communities have powered extractive economies, gathering, farming, and harvesting for others while being excluded from innovation, ownership, and value creation. We envision an Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Economy that nurtures thriving villages where health, dignity, and ecological integrity, rooted in both land and water, are at the centre of development. Grounded in the wisdom of Indigenous peoples and aligned with the global Wellbeing Economy movement, this model shifts the goal of economic activity from profit to purpose: ensuring people and the planet flourish together in harmony with nature’s green and blue economies.
An IKS Economy reimagines progress, not by how fast we grow, but by how well we live. It embraces the regenerative power of the green economy, which restores soils, forests, and biodiversity on land, alongside the blue economy, which sustains oceans, rivers, and coastal communities. Together, these form a foundation for cultural continuity, ecosystem renewal, and a life centred on healing, food sovereignty, knowledge sharing, and spiritual fulfilment.
Areas of Focus
Health & Wellbeing
Research, Innovation, & Digitisation
Indigenous Law & Governance
Indigenous Law & Governance
Research, Innovation, & Digitisation
Indigenous Law & Governance
Research, Innovation, & Digitisation
Research, Innovation, & Digitisation
Agriculture, Agroecology, and Food Systems
Agriculture, Agroecology, and Food Systems
Agriculture, Agroecology, and Food Systems
Agriculture, Agroecology, and Food Systems
Just Energy Transition
Agriculture, Agroecology, and Food Systems
Just Energy Transition
Oceans
Agriculture, Agroecology, and Food Systems
Just Energy Transition
