Documentaries as Reservoirs of Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Ndau People of South-Eastern Zimbabwe

The chapter examines documentaries as repositories for the preservation, protection, promotion and dissemination of indigenous knowledge systems for future generations. This participatory and qualitative study, carried out among the Ndau of south-eastern Zimbabwe, utilised in-depth interviews and focus group discussions as interactive research methods where the indigenous knowledge holders, the old and the young, female and male and indigenous knowledge researchers were interviewed with the intention to investigate the extent to which documentaries can be reservoirs of indigenous knowledge. Documentaries were found to be effective repositories of indigenous knowledge but notwithstanding their myriad challenges, threats and risks as revealed by participants. The chapter argues that using a participatory approach and a high sense of respect towards knowledge holders, documentaries are a safety net for preserving indigenous knowledge facing extinction threats.