Changes in dyeing and weaving of African baskets

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concepts are to the learners, and that IK integration might minimise their foreignness, I decided to explore the concept of chemical and physical change. I worked with grade 8 Physical Science teachers with a view to co-developing an exemplar lesson integrating the cultural practice of African basketry. Essentially, this study was a practical pedagogical approach that was aimed at popularising the anchoring of science instruction in learners’ prior or everyday knowledge (local knowledge).

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strips with the different natural dyes they permanently turn dark brown, pink, charcoal, yellow and black (see Table 2.2 below).

Table 2.2: Dyeing agents for the Makalani palm leaves

Dyes used/ Dyeing

agents Plant name (where

available) Latin name (where

available) Colour

Muzinzila Bird plum Berchemia discolour Deep red brown

Makapa (rusty tin) - - Charcoal

Mabele/Mahera Sorghum Sorghum bicolour Salmon pink

Mukokoshi Na Diospyrus chamaeth Yellow

Muhatula Na Indigofera cinctoria Lilac

Litati (Icheka) N/A Aloe zebrina Lemon yellow

Mutakula Magic guarrie bush Euclea divinorum Olive brown

Musweti Blue bush Diospyrus lyciodes Mustard

Muzauli False mopane Guibourtia coleosperma Bark = beige; leaves

=charcoal

Muhonono - - Deep black

Source: Suich and Murphy (2002, p. 14)

Heat is also involved in the dyeing process. For instance, the dried palm leaves or fresh palm leaves strips are boiled with a specific dyeing agent depending on the desired colour. Boiling the palm leaves in the dyes helps to speed up the dyeing process.

During the process of dyeing, changes in the chemical and physical composition of the palm leaves strips takes place. For instance, when the midribs are removed during the splitting of the

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palm leaves strips, the strips are made thinner by splitting them further (change in physical properties). Though this may be difficult or confusing to classify as physical change since it cannot be reversed, learners will have an opportunity to visualise that the splitting process only affected the physical properties of the palm leaves strips, as the chemical properties have not changed. Looking at the whole process of dyeing we may learn that it also illustrates the procedures and processes for conducting a scientific experiment. The dyeing process provides an opportunity for one to look at the reactants and how they are affected, at the end of the dyeing process (products).

2.2.2.2 The weaving process

In this section I discuss a few processes involved in weaving that illustrate or can be used to help learners observe or visualise physical changes. To illustrate that a physical change can be easily reversed, we look at how the size of the coil is maintained while weaving. Weaving uses a coil technique and during weaving, the weaving grass is continuously fed or added to a coil to maintain its size. As the weaver is weaving, the size of the coil decreases. To maintain the right size, a few straws of weaving grass are cautiously and gradually added and woven. If by mistake, more or a fewer straws of weaving grass are woven the coil size will be bigger or too small. In this case the coil can be unwoven and the size of the coil is adjusted removing some straws (coil is bigger) or by adding some straws of weaving grass (coil is too small). These observed changes during weaving may be used to illustrate the course of physical changes.

Other processes that could illustrate a physical change during weaving involves the symbols or embroidery of geometric patterns that are woven into the baskets. Using the dyed strips of palm leaves, the decorations can be changed as desired by the weaver during the weaving process. For instance, if a weaver detects a mistake or an omission in terms of her pattern she will just undo the unwanted coil. Moreover, the shape and size of the basket is determined by its use or purpose. For example, we have flat plate shapes mostly for winnowing and the large bowl-shaped baskets are for carrying things during harvest times, collecting and transporting food and possessions (Suich & Murphy, 2002). A weaver can, therefore, change a flat plate- shaped basket to a bowl-shaped basket by simply increasing the number of coils on it.

During the weaving process, the weaver soaks the palm leaves strips in water which could be used to illustrate physical changes. For instance, the dried palm leaves are brittle and cannot be used to weave, but when soaked in water the palm leaves strips becomes soft and flexible as

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they absorb more water. The flexibility attained is not permanent and can be easily lost by drying the soaked palm leaves strips in the sun. The finding of this study has a wider application in education across the African continent. Statistics show that most baskets produced in Namibia are found in the Zambezi and Kavango (both east and west) regions and the four regions of former Owamboland, and fewer baskets from the Kunene Region (Terry, Lee, & Le Roux, 1994). It is also recognised that the traditional knowledge of basket-making goes beyond the regional boundaries of Namibia to the vast territories of the African continent (Gerdes, 2007).

2.2.2.3 The supply of raw materials

Paxton (2018) shows that there is increased stress on natural resources such as trees (Berchemia), the Makalani palm and weaving grass, and these resources are declining. These changes to the local environment due to human impact may be temporary or permanent, and learners may be allowed to debate these changes in their classrooms. If the raw materials are harvested in an unsustainable manner, these natural resources may fail to rejuvenate. According to Paxton (2018), the excessive use of Berchemia (Munzinzila) bark as a dye resource damages the trees. When fresh bark is continuously cut or removed from the tree, it causes the tree to dry up and die. Consequently, this has made it more difficult to access these raw materials. The loss of access to raw materials comes at a cost - people are forced to walk longer distances and deeper into the bush to find suitable Munzinzila trees with good quality bark. The palms and weaving grasses costs have increased too; young men and non-weavers collect and sell the palm leaves and other plant extracts used for dyes to weavers, who cannot walk longer distances.

Previously accepted traditional ways of harvesting the raw materials are changing as weavers and non-weavers involved in harvesting these resources have received training in sustainable methods of harvesting. Instead of cutting the fresh bark, for instance, weavers are encouraged to only collect the dead bark from the Munzinzila tree. With the harvesting of the palm leaves, knives are used to cut the frond only, instead of cutting out the heart of the palm tree with a hoe or panga. To assist the weavers and protect the natural resources in the Kavango East region of Namibia, the Omba Arts Trust and weavers have embarked upon an initiative to establish homestead gardens since 1994. According to Paxton (2018), the homestead gardens are proving to be successful regarding the germination and growth of the Makalani palm, the Berchemia

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and other useful trees that were planted. Their success story shows that from November 1994 to December 2015, a total of 2,650 palms and 460 other trees (mainly species used for dyes) were planted in a total of 24 palm gardens (Paxton, 2018). A number of learners may be involved in harvesting these raw materials used as dyeing agents or material for weaving. When reference is made to this knowledge learners might be more interested in the lesson. I now discuss the relation of this knowledge to prior knowledge.