Georgia State University Visit

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A most unusual request came from Georgia State University; they had six doctoral students and their lecturer who were going to be in the country studying ethno-mathematics.  The request: could we arrange for them to be taught basket weaving for a day?  This meant arranging for one of the famous Masuku clan from Empenbeni, near Hlabisa, to come down for a few days; transport, accommodation, fee, meals, etc AND fetching a consignment of ilala palm beforehand so that the Masuku family could dye it.  The night before the class, Nomusa Masuku quickly put a small basket together from scratch; during the class, the ‘students’ each managed a circular piece half the size of a saucer, and said that their aching hands couldn’t manage any more!  It gave them an enormous respect for the skills of women like Nomusa, who have been making baskets since childhood and for whom this is the only source of income.

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