Interrogating the place of Iks embodied in proverbs as a guide in love and family life counseling in contemporary Zimbabwe

Abstract

The present paper sought to establish the extent to which the Indigenous Knowledge Systems ‘IKS’, preserved in Shona proverbs, as opposed to other knowledge systems, are relevant in counseling contemporary Zimbabwean youths on issues relating to love courtship and marriage and family life conflicts. Through desktop research, the questionnaires and focused group discussions methods, the researchers compiled an inventory of proverbs that embody IKS or traditional wisdom. An interrogation of these proverbs clarifies the distinction between IKS and other knowledge systems. The role of proverbs as a repository of IKS relevant in the counseling of youths today at strategic stages is asserted and the writers dispel the myth that IKS are static and backward. Proverbs are proved to be a relevant guide in ‘matters of the heart. The writers conclude that with appropriate adjustments, IKS based counseling will remain as relevant today and tomorrow as it was in the past. Furthermore, the writers conclude that IKS can help uphold values that promote the sanctity of marriage and the family unit in Zimbabwe.