Revista Latinoamericana de Etnomatemática (Jul 2015)

Os saberes matemáticos em armadilhas dos caçadores Nyaneka-nkhumbi do sul de Angola

  • Domingos Dias,
  • Pedro Palhares,
  • Cecília Costa

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
pp. 326 – 340

Abstract

Read online

Math knowledge and skills are not found exclusively in schools. The Nyaneka-nkhumbi ethnic group is one of the linguistic groups in southern Angola, with rich and unknown ethnomatematics knowledge and know-how. With this study we intend to contribute to the research in ethnomathematics and to the development and dissemination of mathematics knowledge 'hidden' in the culture of Nyaneka-nkhumbi; in particular, we will identify this knowledge in the traps made by this ethnic group. In this context traps are the artifacts often used by hunters to catch prey such as birds and / or various small animals. This paper is based on studies by various authors such as Gerdes, D'Ambrosio, Palhares and many others who are apologists of ethnomathematical studies. The procedures used to collect the data were: direct observation, informal interviews with hunters and former hunters, photographic records and field notes.

Keywords