Interweaving Art and Mathematics in Mozambique

The book “TINHLELO, Interweaving Art and Mathematics: Colourful Basket Trays from the South of Mozambique” exhibits and analyses coloured circular winnowing baskets collected by the author since the end of the 1970s (Lulu, 2010, 132 pp. colour, ISBN 978-0-557-48625-0) (Available from http://stores.lulu.com/pgerdes  ) (Foreword by the Hon. Aires Aly, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique)

From the Foreword:
 
The beauty in the collections of “Tinhlelo” winnowing trays both surprises and fascinates the reader.

“Tinhlelo” exist in each family of the vast Mozambique. We need to know that there are no factories for the production of the “tinhlelo.” “Tinhlelo” knowledge is endogenous knowledge that repeats itself, recreates itself, and adorns itself in the multiplicity of its models, sizes, colours, and functions. No conventional school orients this learning. The families, the remarkable, curious and master artisans, are the ones who are creating and maintaining these products of eloquent usefulness in our families. The families recreate the art of this mathematical weaving!

We believe that this work, if present especially in our teaching and training institutions and also in our museums, may induce new attitudes and approaches to endogenous knowledge. When our educators who have to take care of promoting learning, new behaviour and conduct towards this knowledge among the new generations understand this, we can expect mathematics education transformation.
When we take this study seriously, it will be a source of inspiration and motivation to allow the blossoming of young talents of whom the future of Mozambique always will be proud.

Hon. Aires Aly, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique

The book is also available in Portuguese.
 
Other books that may interest you:
 
*        Otthava: Making Baskets and Doing Geometry in the Makhuwa Culture in the Northeast of Mozambique, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2010, 290 pp. 
*        Otthava Images in Colour: A Supplement, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2010, 68 pp.
*        Hats from Mozambique / Chapéus de Moçambique, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2010, 52 pp.
*        Geometry and Basketry of the Bora in the Peruvian Amazon, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2009, 176 pp.
*        Geometry and Basketry of the Bora in the Peruvian Amazon. Supplement: Images in Colour, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2009, 36 pp.
*        Sipatsi: Basketry and Geometry in the Tonga Culture of Inhambane (Mozambique, Africa), Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2009, 422 pp.
*        Sipatsi Images in Colour: A Supplement, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2009, 56 pp.
*        Adventures in the World of Matrices, Nova Science Publishers, New York, 2008, 196 pp.
*        African Basketry: A Gallery of Twill-Plaited Designs and Patterns, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2007, 220 pp.
*        Lunda Geometry: Mirror Curves, Designs, Knots, Polyominoes, Patterns, Symmetries, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2007, 198 pp. [First edition: UP, Maputo, 1996, 149 pp.]
*        Mathematics in African History and Cultures. An annotated Bibliography (co-author Ahmed Djebbar), Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2007, 430 pp. [First edition: African Mathematical Union, Cape Town (South Africa), 2004, 262 pp.]
*        African Doctorates in Mathematics: A Catalogue, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2007, 383 pp.
*        Drawings from Angola: Living Mathematics, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2007, 72 pp.
*        Doctoral Theses by Mozambicans and about Mozambique, Lulu.com, Morrisville NC, 2007, 124 pp.
*        Sona Geometry from Angola: Mathematics of an African Tradition, Polimetrica International Science Publishers, Monza (Italy), 2006, 232 pp. [First edition: Sona Geometry: Reflections on the sand drawing tradition of peoples of Africa south of the Equator, UP, Maputo, 1994, Vol.1, 200 pp.]