About es-project

The “es” in the name of the es-project means “know” in Aari language in southwest Ethiopia. [The stem is es and the indefinite form is eskan] Aari people have used the term to mean that they have actually experienced and they have been able to do. In recent years, with the penetration of schooling and other factors, the scope and meaning of the word “es” has been expanded to include what we see, hear, and read.

While keeping in mind the original meaning of the word “es“, this project focuses on the process of creating new knowledge based on the experiences and knowledge cultivated by people in Africa – the formation of local knowledge, ZAIRAICHI in Japanese (Shigeta 2020). Based on the data and findings obtained through fieldwork, this project is examining the state of knowledge of the African people. While learning from their local knowledge that African people have cultivated, it examines the way we could engage with people in the field as contemporaries and we could create a better life living in the 21st century.

Based on the above interests, the es-project is conducting its research activities in Africa according to the following three key phrases:

1) Sharing Local Knowledge and Technological Innovation
2) Local knowledge & Creating Livelihood Opportunities
3) Cooperation & Social Implementation

M.SHIGETA 2020 On launching ZAIRAICHI, ZAIRAICHI No.2, ZAIRAICHI-MNGD Special issue 01: i-iii