Paulus Gerdes

The book "Lunda Geometry" explains how the mathematical concepts of mirror curves and Lunda-designs were discovered in the context of the author's research of 'sona', illustrations traditionally made in the sand by Cokwe storytellers from eastern Angola (a region called Lunda) and neighboring regions of Congo and Zambia. Examples of mirror curves from several cultures are presented. Lunda-designs are aesthetically attractive and display interesting symmetry properties. Examples of Lunda-patterns and Lunda-polyominoes are presented. Some generalizations of the concept of Lunda-design are discussed, like hexagonal Lunda-designs, Lunda-k-designs, Lunda-fractals, and circular Lunda-designs. Lunda-designs of Celtic knot designs are constructed.Several chapters were published in journals like 'Computers & Graphics' (Oxford), 'Visual Mathematics' (Belgrade), and 'Mathematics in School' (UK).

Lunda Geometry: Mirror Curves, Designs, Knots, Polyominoes, Patterns, Symmetries

Ahmed Djebbar

History of Mathematics in Africa: 2000-2011

This volume constitutes an updated version of the bibliography published in 2004 by the African Mathematical Union. The African Studies Association attributed the original edition a 'ÂÂspecial mention'ÂÂ in the 2006 Conover-Porter Award competition. The book contains over 1600 bibliographic entries. The appendices contain additional bibliographic information on (1) mathematicians of the Diaspora, (2) publications by Africans on the history of mathematics outside Africa, (3) time-reckoning and astronomy in African history and cultures, (4) string figures in Africa, (5) examples of books published by African mathematicians, (6) board games in Africa, (7) research inspired by geometric aspects of the 'ÂÂsona'ÂÂ tradition. The book concludes with several indices (subject, country, region, author, ethnographic and linguistic, journal, mathematicians). Professor Jan Persens of the University of the Western Cape (South Africa) and president of the African Mathematical Union (2000-2004) wrote the preface.

An Annotated Bibliography

Mathematics in African History and Cultures

Women, Culture and Geometry in Southern Africa

Enjoy puzzling with biLLies

From the Preface:"Over the years, Paulus Gerdes has established himself as the pre-eminent expert on patterns in African weaving and basketry, and the broader implications of these patterns. ... This new book is a broad gallery of plaited African designs. These range over much of the continent while concentrating on those parts of Africa that are closest to his Mozambique center, including Kongo, Mbole and Mangbetu from Congo, Cokwe and Lunda from Angola, Digo from Kenya, Soga from Uganda, Zulu from South Africa, and Makhuwa in Mozambique itself, but including such distant peoples as Bamileke in Cameroon. In Gerdes' gallery we are shown the love of patterns and symmetries that are the result of centuries of exultant exploration. Enjoy!"Donald W. CroweProfessor of Mathematics, EmeritusUniversity of Wisconsin

A Gallery of Twill-plaited Designs and Patterns

African Basketry

1000 Doctoral Theses by Mozambicans or about Mozambique

O livro debruçar-se-á sobre práticas na cultura makhuwa que evidenciam considerações geométricas, susceptíveis de uma exploração matemática e educacional. As práticas a serem apresentadas neste livro provêm da esfera cultural de 'otthava' - tecer, entretecer, entrecruzar, entrançar - ou seja, da cestaria e da esteiraria. Constituem temas de análise a fabricação de funis, de chapéus, de armadilhas de pesca, de recipientes, de peneiras, de chocalhos de dança, de carteiras, de tranças decoradas, de cestos, de nós e de esteiras circulares. Em cada capítulo sugerem-se algumas possibilidades de explorar e valorizar, cientifica e didacticamente, os conhecimentos geométricos inerentes às práticas culturais consideradas. Analisam-se simetrias, polígonos e poliedros, espirais, cilindros, hélices, padrões lineares e planares.

OTTHAVA: Fazer Cestos E Geometria Na Cultura Makhuwa Do Nordeste de Moçambique

Mulheres, Cultura e Geometria na África Austral

Aus dem Vorwort:Leoparden streifen durch die Steppe, Jäger verfolgen Antilopen, Hühner flüchten vor dem Fuchs, Schildkröten suchen sich ihren Weg ... Das Volk der Chokwe im nordöstlichen Angola hat traditionsreiche Techniken entwickelt, um in Sandzeichnungen die typischen Strukturen dieser Pfade darzustellen ...Paulus Gerdes ... hat in diesem Büchlein die Pfade der Chokwe-Weisen nicht nur in anregenden Zeichnungen wiedergegeben und die Geschichten dieser Pfade erzählt, sondern auch erklärt, welche überraschenden mathematischen Strukturen darin ausgedrückt werden...Zugleich hat der Autor die anregenden Sandzeichnungen umgesetzt in Aufgaben, mit denen jugendliche Leser eigenständig die geometrischen Strukturen weiter erkunden und insbesondere Erkenntnisse über Graphen gewinnen können. Das Werk zeichnet sich durch eine vorzügliche Anschaulichkeit aus und führt die Leser in Denk- und Vorstellungsweisen einer afrikanischen Kultur ein.GERT SCHUBRING(Universität Bielefeld)

Paulus Gerdes

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