Book overview
In Sociobiology of Indigenous Foods and Food Systems, Matthew Ogwu presents an integrative and richly interdisciplinary examination of Indigenous foodways as co-evolved sociobiological systems. The volume traces the profound ecological, cultural, and nutritional wisdom embedded in traditional food practices that have sustained human communities across diverse environments for millennia. Organized into four thematic sections, the book covers theoretical foundations of sociobiology and Indigenous knowledge, detailed case studies on iconic crops and foraging systems across Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and Asia, and functional insights into nutrition, medicine, and food symbolism. It further addresses contemporary issues of diaspora adaptation, intellectual property, bioprospecting, and policy frameworks affecting Indigenous food sovereignty.
Drawing on anthropology, ecology, nutrition science, law, and Indigenous scholarship, Ogwu's work highlights both the resilience and vulnerability of Indigenous food systems in the face of globalization, climate change, and historical injustice. The book closes with a call for revitalizing Indigenous food systems as powerful pathways toward ecological sustainability, cultural renewal, and food justice. This timely and authoritative text offers vital guidance for academics, policymakers, activists, and anyone engaged in the intersections of food, environment, and cultural survival.
