Skip to main content
Log in

Graphs in cultures (II): A study in ethnomathematics

  • Published:
Archive for History of Exact Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Western culture is but one of several with an interest in continuous tracing of figures. This paper discusses and analyzes that interest as it is evidenced in Africa among the Bushoong and Tshokwe. Included are figures, statements about the cultural context, and associated geometric and topological ideas. Emphasis is on the structure of the figures and also, where possible, processes of construction are elaborated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, M. J., 1983. Where two dimensions meet: the Kuba of Zaire. In Structure and cognition in art, D. K. Washburn, ed., pp. 40–55. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ascher, M., 1987. Graphs in cultures: a study in ethnomathematics. Historia Mathematica, in press.

  • Ascher, M., & Ascher, R., 1981. Code of the quipu: a study in media, mathematics and culture. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ascher, M., & Ascher, R., 1986. Ethnomathematics. History of Science 24, 125–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastin, M.-L., 1961a. Art decoratif Tshokwe 1, Publicacoes culturais no. 55. Lisbon: Museu do Dondo, Companhia de Diamantes de Angola.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastin, M.-L., 1961b. Quelques oeuvres Tshokwe de musées et collections d'Allemagne et de Scandinavie. Africa-Tervuran 7, 101–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann, H., 1935. Lunda-bei Bauern und Jägern in Inner-Angola. Berlin: Würfel Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centner, Th. H., 1963. L'enfant Africain et ses jeux dans le cadre de la vie traditionelle au Katanga. Collection mémoires CEPSI no. 17. Elizabethville, Katanga (Lumbumbushi, Zaire): CEPSI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fontinha, M., 1983. Desenhos na areia dos Quicos do Nordeste de Angola. Estudos, ensaios e documentos no. 143. Lisbon: Instituto de Investigaçao Científica Tropical.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerdes, P., 1987. On possible uses of traditional Angolan sand drawings in the mathematics classroom. Educational Studies in Mathematics, in press.

  • Hamelberger, E., 1951. Ecrit sur le sable. Annales des Peres du Saint-Esprit 61, 123–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauenstein, A., 1961. La corbeille aux osselets divinatoires des Tchokwe (Angola). Anthropos 56, 114–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaritz, W., 1983. Über Bahnen auf Billardtischen — oder: eine mathematische Untersuchung von Ideogrammen Angolanischer Herkunft. Berichte der Mathematisch-Statistischen Sektion im Forschungszentrum Graz 207, 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubik, G., 1975. Kulturelle und sprachliche Feldforschungen in Nordwest-Zambia, 1971 and 1973. Bulletin of the International Commission on Urgent Anthropological and Ethnological Research 17, 87–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubik, G., 1985. African graphic systems — a reassessment (Part II). Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien (MAGW) 115, 77–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubik, G., 1986. Tusona ideographs—a lesson in ‘objectivity’ in interpretation. In Archeological objectivity in interpretation 1, World Archeological Congress 1986, 1–30. London: Allen & Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubik, G., 1987 (?). Tusona-Luchazi ideographs. Vienna: Verlag E. Stiglmayr.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCulloch, M., 1951. The southern Lunda and related peoples. London: International African Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdock, G. P., 1967. Ethnohraphic atlas. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redinha, J., 1953. Peredes pintades da Lunda, Publicações culturais no. 18. Lisbon: Museu do Dondo, Companhia de Diamantes de Angola.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, E. dos, 1961. Contribuiçao para o estudo das pictografias e ideogramas dos Quicos. In Estudos Sobre a Etnologia do Ultramar Português 2, Estudos, ensaios e documentos no. 84, 17–131. Lisbon: Junta de Investigações do Ultramar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torday, E., 1925. On the trail of the Bushongo. Philadelphia: Lippincott.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torday, E., & Joyce, T. A., 1910. Notes ethnographiques sur les peuples communément appelés Bakuba, ainsi que sur la peuplades apparentées les Bushongo. Annales du Musée du Congo Belge, Ethnographie, Anthropologie, Serie 3, vol. 2, pt. 1. Bruxelles.

  • Trowell, M., 1960. African design. New York: Frederick A. Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vansina, J., 1954. Les tribus Ba-Kuba et les peuplades apparentées. Annales du Musée Royal du Congo Belge, Série in-8°. Tervuren.

  • Vansina, J., 1964. Le royaume Kuba. Annales du Musée Royal de L'Afrique Central, Séries in-8°. Tervuren.

  • Zaslavsky, C., 1973. Africa counts. Boston: Prindle, Webber and Schmidt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaslavsky, C., 1975. African network patterns. Mathematics Teaching no. 73, 12–13.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by C. J. Scriba

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ascher, M. Graphs in cultures (II): A study in ethnomathematics. Arch. Rational Mech. 39, 75–95 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329986

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329986

Keywords

Navigation