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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - From life force to slimming aid : exploring views on the commodification of traditional medicinal knowledge.
AU - Vermeylen, Saskia
N1 - The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Applied Geography 28 (3), 2008, © ELSEVIER.
PY - 2008/7
Y1 - 2008/7
N2 - The commodification of traditional knowledge is a lively topic for academic debate, with opinions ranging from categorical rejection of this process, to views that it could be a liberating act. This debate is often characterised by generalisations and a lack of empirical engagement. This paper presents a case study of the commercialisation of traditional medicinal knowledge of the San in Southern Africa. A scenario survey in 3 communities reveals a range of different views amongst individuals and communities, much of which could be linked to differing local and historic socio-economic factors. Although the survey indicates that commodification is widely accepted, the subsequent use of a ‘life story’ approach to examine the actual commercialisation of the Hoodia (Hoodia Gordonii—a plant with appetite suppressant properties), shows that this acceptance is problematic. San informants reflect on it as a pragmatic choice informed by experiences of deprivation and economic hardship, resulting in a process which changes the cultural meaning of the plant and undermine its traditional healing power for the San themselves.
AB - The commodification of traditional knowledge is a lively topic for academic debate, with opinions ranging from categorical rejection of this process, to views that it could be a liberating act. This debate is often characterised by generalisations and a lack of empirical engagement. This paper presents a case study of the commercialisation of traditional medicinal knowledge of the San in Southern Africa. A scenario survey in 3 communities reveals a range of different views amongst individuals and communities, much of which could be linked to differing local and historic socio-economic factors. Although the survey indicates that commodification is widely accepted, the subsequent use of a ‘life story’ approach to examine the actual commercialisation of the Hoodia (Hoodia Gordonii—a plant with appetite suppressant properties), shows that this acceptance is problematic. San informants reflect on it as a pragmatic choice informed by experiences of deprivation and economic hardship, resulting in a process which changes the cultural meaning of the plant and undermine its traditional healing power for the San themselves.
KW - Benefit sharing
KW - Commodification
KW - Indigenous knowledge
KW - Traditional medicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=44649138578&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apgeog.2008.02.003
DO - 10.1016/j.apgeog.2008.02.003
M3 - Journal article
VL - 28
SP - 224
EP - 235
JO - Applied Geography
JF - Applied Geography
SN - 0143-6228
IS - 3
ER -