Indigenous wisdom and accounting reasoning: contributions of Kogui cosmology to contemporary accounting

Abstract

This research, which is developed from a qualitative and hermeneutic approach, using a case study method, explores the economic-accounting worldview of the Kogui community of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. It is an alternative vision, contrasted with traditional accounting practices. It is developed in four phases: design and planning, documentary study, field work and data interpretation. For the field work, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the Mamo Kogui, as well as participant observation for its complement and improvement.

The Kogui indigenous wisdom reveals a perspective deeply interconnected with its natural environment, culture and spirituality, balance with nature and reciprocity and a management of resources for the common benefit. Their accounting reasoning, despite not having a formal accounting system, handles principles that can be translated into modern accounting systems (environmental and social balance model).

Traditional accounting, which is based on numerical precision, money, accumulation, profitability and control, is based on maximizing profits, financial efficiency and the accumulation of investor capital.

The results reveal a Kogui wisdom with an accounting model based on reciprocity, solidarity and respect for living and non-living beings, social and environmental harmony and collective memory, while traditional accounting is based on financial control and efficiency and investor enrichment.

Language and geographic barriers are elements to be taken into account in future research.