Prof. Wandera Ogana is a retired professor of applied mathematics and a towering figure in the field regionally. He has contributed to various research projects, including work with NASA, and is now focused on writing both technical papers and fiction.
He is no stranger to writing. His earlier works of fiction for adults include Hand of Chance (1970), Days of Glamour (1975), Campus Days (2007), and A Family Affair (2011). What is new, however, is his venture into mathematics fiction for young readers.
His two latest books, Little Hesabu Friends and Mathematics Contest, published in February, appeal to early learners and adults alike, exploring mathematical themes in accessible ways.
“I’ve always been interested in mathematics and fiction. Then it occurred to me that there is a need to understand how to use ideas in mathematics,” he says.
Prof. Ogana does not aim to teach. Instead, he weaves literary elements such as themes, plot, setting, and characters whose conversations revolve around mathematical experiences.
Little Hesabu Friends follows Juma, a seven-year-old boy living in a village. He applies mathematical ideas to everyday experiences with his friend Zeero. In one scene, he uses a weighing scale to calculate how much meat his mother will receive.
By setting the story in a rural environment, Prof. Ogana emphasizes that a child does not need sophisticated surroundings to appreciate mathematics.
“In the book, there is no mention of calculators because many rural schools lack these tools. A child can grasp mathematics regardless of their background,” he says.
Juma represents a curious child discovering how numbers relate to the world around him. His curiosity allows him to see the practical side of mathematics, something Prof. Ogana notes not every child experiences.
“When exposing people to mathematical concepts, not everyone will value them. We need children who are curious about it in schools,” he observes.
Zeero, as a female character, challenges the stereotype that mathematics is not for girls. Her interactions with Juma show that children can form friendships and exchange ideas through shared curiosity in the subject.
In Mathematics Contest, Prof. Ogana tells the story of Pamela, a Class Four girl preparing for a mathematics contest while battling self-doubt.
Supported by her aunt, who serves as a role model, Pamela learns to put in effort and believe in her abilities.
“Self-doubt is one of the reasons many people withdraw from mathematics. They assume it is too difficult,” he says.
Reflecting on his own primary school years, Prof. Ogana recalls that many students lost interest in the subject, convinced they would fail. Then, as now, students often accept failure as inevitable, particularly when teachers fail to encourage them.
At the same time, he acknowledges that not everyone can master mathematics at every level.
“There are basic concepts everyone should understand. Beyond that, it depends on individual abilities, which is why people specialize in different areas,” he says.
The two books challenge the perception that mathematics is harder for girls than boys and show that the subject is not limited by gender or background.
Prof. Ogana sees fear of mathematics as a societal issue. Through his stories, he demonstrates how young learners can apply mathematics in play and daily life. Translating concepts into narrative, however, was not easy.
“The hardest part was making the concepts simple and fun enough without making the book too mathematical, but also not so simple that it requires no thinking,” he says.
He stresses that mathematics fiction does not replace classroom learning and does not follow the curriculum. Its goal is to motivate students to appreciate and enjoy the subject.