UREM-ULB :
Unité de Recherche sur l’Enseignement des Mathématiques

Un message de Paulus Gerdes

Dear colleagues and friends,

We have the honour to announce the publication of the book

“History of Mathematics in Africa : AMUCHMA 25 Years”

(Authors : Paulus Gerdes & Ahmed Djebbar, 924 pages in two volumes ; Volume 1 : 1986-1999 [ISBN 978-1-105-11807-4, 480 pp.] ; Volume 2 : 2000-2011 [ISBN 978-1-105-14100-3, 444 pp.] ; Distribution by Lulu, Morriville NC, http://stores.lulu.com/pgerdes, Published October 27, 2011)

The book reproduces the thirty-seven newsletters published by AMUCHMA (African Mathematical Union Commission on the History of Mathematics in Africa) since its birth in 1986. The book celebrates the 25 years of AMUCHMA by giving a vivid picture of the activities that took place, of the studies done, of the queries, of sources, of meetings, of lectures, of dissertations, of publications… At the end of the book are included country and name indices.

The book contains Prefaces written by Professor Saliou Touré (President of the African Mathematical Union), by Professors Craig Fraser and Elena Ausejo (Chair and Secretary of the International Commission for the History of Mathematics), and by Professor Eberhard Knobloch (President of the International Academy of the History of Science). Professors Aderemi Kuku (President [1986-1995] and Honorary President of the African Mathematical Union) and Jean-Pierre Ezin (Commissioner for Human Resources, Sciences and Technology of the African Union) wrote the Afterwords.

Some extracts of the Prefaces and Afterwords included on the backcover of the book :

“I am particularly delighted to say that the successes achieved by AMUCHMA in its activities … have been spectacular and exemplary …”

Aderemi Kuku, Honorary President of the African Mathematical Union

“I hope that this book will rapidly become reference material for use by teachers and students of the history of mathematics and all those interested in Africa’s many contributions to the advancement of science in general and mathematics in particular.”
Saliou Touré, President of the African Mathematical Union

AMUCHMA “has helped to bring awareness in Africa and globally of the rich legacy of thousands of years of Africa’s mathematical contributions to the international development of mathematics.”
Jean-Pierre Ezin, Commissioner for Human Resources, Sciences and Technology, African Union Commission

“The AMUCHMA newsletters have advanced our understanding of the history of mathematics in Africa and have facilitated communication among those interested in this subject.”
Craig Fraser & Elena Ausejo, Chair and Secretary of the International Commission on the History of Mathematics

“… I would like to offer my most cordial congratulations to Paulus Gerdes and Ahmed Djebbar ... The international community of historians of science very much appreciate their work ...”
Eberhard Knobloch, President of the International Academy of the History of Science

Paulus Gerdes & Ahmed Djebbar
Chairman & Secretary of AMUCHMA

— 
Paulus Gerdes
Vice-President for Southern Africa, African Academy of Sciences
Chairman, AMU Commission for the History of Mathematics in Africa (AMUCHMA)
President, International Studygroup for Ethnomathematics
 C.P. 915, Maputo, Mozambique
 paulus.gerdes@gmail.com
 http://stores.lulu.com/pgerdes