By Zulumathabo Zulu © 2016
The Sesotho Dictionary of Mathematics was a subject of great interest on the Radio of 702 FM wherein I was interviewed by the fabulous and indefatigable radio journalist Ms. Lovelyn Nwadeyi of the 702’s NightTalk show. The interview took place on Friday October 14th, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The interview tackled difficult topics like the popular perception that prior to the advent of Europeans in South Africa there was no mathematics; no knowledge; no education; no sciences and a host of other stereotypes. As an intellectual historian whose mission is to uncover, rescuscitate and scientifically document the African origin of ideas, I say “ayikho leyondaba” that is “nothing could be further from the truth”.
There is an uncontested evidence that Africans boasted a literary culture in the many forms of writing as confirmed by more than 20 writing systems with their taxonomical varieties in the African continent; by far, the largest inventory of writing systems in any part of the planet. Right here in South Africa, the Basotho ancients of Dingaka used writing systems to encode their instruments of geomancy.
The interview covered a range of topics including the African philosophy of knowledge; the writing systems of the Basotho; the African instruments of geomancy known as Ditaola and how I began my journey as an intellectual historian.
Without further ado, the followers of Zulumathabo on the Internet 2.0 here is the podcast.
Madisebo University 