Help on african blacksmiths

Flavio · 7th April 2013, 10:07 PM

HI guys!!!
Can you provide some references (book or articles) on the role of african blacksmiths in their society?
I appreciate any kind of help

Thank you so much

colin henshaw · 7th April 2013, 10:35 PM

An interesting subject - blacksmiths in African societies often kept themselves separate from the other tribal members, and could be feared on account of their supposed ability to perform magic, particularly if they actually smelted the metal themselves from local iron ore. Various religious rites could be involved in the process.

Most of the classic African ethnographic studies include details on this subject. Any particular area/tribe you are looking at ? A good starting point could be Christopher Spring's book on African weapons (British Museum).

Regards.

Iain · 7th April 2013, 11:11 PM

As Colin said, if we know what ethnic group/region you are interested in it will be easier to give suggestions.

Edster · 8th April 2013, 01:53 AM

Flavio,

Interesting inquiry, although I have only found small fragments myself. Others will not doubt have a wider experience. Hope you can flush out some good info since the technical processes employed greatly influence the product.

As I recall Sir Stanley Baker writing of his travels in Sudan circa. late 1850s mentions local smithing in the borderlands between Sudan and Abassina (sic) in a section on the Hamram Elephant Hunters He also mentions an Italian blacksmith who worked in the area at that time. I wondered how he may have gotten there although Italian colonialism was active in the area for decades. I recall a photograph in a later work, perhaps in "Sudan Notes and Records", that showed a native smelter in the same area.

I would think that their technique and process would be similar to that I report in my Kassala sword paper. Some photos there as well. Three man crew: Goat skin bellows operator to keep the temp up, master smith taps blade where he wants it hit and a hitter giving the spot a good whack. Process repeats continuously and rapidly until correct balde shape is achieved. Great interpersonal coordination between these two. All this takes place with all three sitting before a small circular anvil and the heating coal fire. Must be cultural but in my experience African and Iranian craftsmen usually sit and European smiths stand.

Take care,
Ed

Josh Maxwell · 8th April 2013, 02:29 AM

Patrick McNaughton's "The Mande Blacksmiths: Knowledge, Power, and Art in West Africa" is where I'd start.

Congoblades · 8th April 2013, 11:51 AM

maybe this can help;

BOCOUM, HAMADY. (ED.).
THE ORIGIN OF IRON METALLURGY IN AFRICA. NEW LIGHT ON ITS ANTIQUITY: WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA.
240 pp.; 87 b/w & colour photos, 13 b/w figs., tables, index, biblio.. Series: Memory of Peoples. Paris, 2004. Pbk.

EERHART, FRANK.
THE POWER OF IRON IN AFRICA.
218 pp.; 250 colour illus., biblio.. Eindhoven, 2013. Hbk. Frank Eerhart has been collecting African iron objects for over 25 years. His collection is presented in this publication for the first time. In 13 chapters he sheds light on the provenance, the use of the objects and their function in various African societies.

SCHMIDT, PETER R.
IRON TECHNOLOGY IN EAST AFRICA. SYMBOLISM, SCIENCE, AND ARCHAEOLOGY.
400 pp.; 111 b/w illus., 51 figs., index, biblio.. Bloomington, 1997. Pbk.

TimW · 8th April 2013, 01:32 PM

La metallurgie traditionelle au Burundi
Techniques et croyances
Georges Celis & Emmanuel Nzikobanyanka
Musée royal de l'afrique centrale - Tervuren
archives d'anthropologie n° 25
1976

This book contains info on:
- smelters and blacksmiths in rundi societ
- smelting and blacsmithing :
*smelters and smiths of musigati
* buta
* bisoro
* buragane & south of buyogoma
* moso
*mukenke
*gitwenge
- lances and arrowheads from burundi
- pygmee blacksmiths
- copper and brassworking
- braiding (bracelets)
- carves shells
- wooden bracelets
- synthesis
- bibliography
- kirundi - french translations of important terms

Iain · 8th April 2013, 01:39 PM

This is a nice PDF regarding Hausa blacksmiths.

http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/...ues2/34240.pdf

Flavio · 8th April 2013, 02:03 PM

Thanks again!!!!!!!!
Very helpfull!!!!!!

GRAZIE DI CUORE

Edster · 8th April 2013, 03:10 PM

Flavio,

Russian archaeologists have very good Bronze Age research of the Steppe nomads; Early, Middle and Late with transitions into the Early Iron Age. Mostly analysis of kurgan grave goods, including bronze tools and weapons. Considerable material on the internet. Seem to recall there were fortified metalworking settlements in the Urals near ore deposits.

Also may check out periodical published by the Russian Academy of Science in English, "Science in Russia" around 2000. Also, Naslide in Stavropol has done a lot of Bronze Age excavations in South Russia.

I have a reproduction of a 700 BCE cast bronze axe head that had an two iron snake inlays along with incised fish as representations of ethnic cosmology. Blade edge had been hammered to "work hardened". Most (all??) bronze axes were cast in stone molds. Don't think bronze can be hardened with heat only alloy composition and mechanical working, but I could well be incorrect.

Hope this helps.
Ed

7th April 2013, 10:07 PM	#1
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Help on african blacksmiths HI guys!!! Can you provide some references (book or articles) on the role of african blacksmiths in their society? I appreciate any kind of help Thank you so much

7th April 2013, 10:35 PM	#2
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	An interesting subject - blacksmiths in African societies often kept themselves separate from the other tribal members, and could be feared on account of their supposed ability to perform magic, particularly if they actually smelted the metal themselves from local iron ore. Various religious rites could be involved in the process. Most of the classic African ethnographic studies include details on this subject. Any particular area/tribe you are looking at ? A good starting point could be Christopher Spring's book on African weapons (British Museum). Regards.

7th April 2013, 11:11 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	As Colin said, if we know what ethnic group/region you are interested in it will be easier to give suggestions.

8th April 2013, 01:53 AM	#4
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Flavio, Interesting inquiry, although I have only found small fragments myself. Others will not doubt have a wider experience. Hope you can flush out some good info since the technical processes employed greatly influence the product. As I recall Sir Stanley Baker writing of his travels in Sudan circa. late 1850s mentions local smithing in the borderlands between Sudan and Abassina (sic) in a section on the Hamram Elephant Hunters He also mentions an Italian blacksmith who worked in the area at that time. I wondered how he may have gotten there although Italian colonialism was active in the area for decades. I recall a photograph in a later work, perhaps in "Sudan Notes and Records", that showed a native smelter in the same area. I would think that their technique and process would be similar to that I report in my Kassala sword paper. Some photos there as well. Three man crew: Goat skin bellows operator to keep the temp up, master smith taps blade where he wants it hit and a hitter giving the spot a good whack. Process repeats continuously and rapidly until correct balde shape is achieved. Great interpersonal coordination between these two. All this takes place with all three sitting before a small circular anvil and the heating coal fire. Must be cultural but in my experience African and Iranian craftsmen usually sit and European smiths stand. Take care, Ed

8th April 2013, 02:29 AM	#5
Josh Maxwell Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4	Patrick McNaughton's "The Mande Blacksmiths: Knowledge, Power, and Art in West Africa" is where I'd start.

8th April 2013, 11:51 AM	#6
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	maybe this can help; BOCOUM, HAMADY. (ED.). THE ORIGIN OF IRON METALLURGY IN AFRICA. NEW LIGHT ON ITS ANTIQUITY: WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA. 240 pp.; 87 b/w & colour photos, 13 b/w figs., tables, index, biblio.. Series: Memory of Peoples. Paris, 2004. Pbk. EERHART, FRANK. THE POWER OF IRON IN AFRICA. 218 pp.; 250 colour illus., biblio.. Eindhoven, 2013. Hbk. Frank Eerhart has been collecting African iron objects for over 25 years. His collection is presented in this publication for the first time. In 13 chapters he sheds light on the provenance, the use of the objects and their function in various African societies. SCHMIDT, PETER R. IRON TECHNOLOGY IN EAST AFRICA. SYMBOLISM, SCIENCE, AND ARCHAEOLOGY. 400 pp.; 111 b/w illus., 51 figs., index, biblio.. Bloomington, 1997. Pbk.

8th April 2013, 01:32 PM	#7
TimW Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 54	La metallurgie traditionelle au Burundi Techniques et croyances Georges Celis & Emmanuel Nzikobanyanka Musée royal de l'afrique centrale - Tervuren archives d'anthropologie n° 25 1976 This book contains info on: - smelters and blacksmiths in rundi societ - smelting and blacsmithing : smelters and smiths of musigati buta * bisoro * buragane & south of buyogoma * moso mukenke gitwenge - lances and arrowheads from burundi - pygmee blacksmiths - copper and brassworking - braiding (bracelets) - carves shells - wooden bracelets - synthesis - bibliography - kirundi - french translations of important terms

8th April 2013, 01:39 PM	#8
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	This is a nice PDF regarding Hausa blacksmiths. http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/...ues2/34240.pdf

8th April 2013, 02:03 PM	#9
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Thanks again!!!!!!!! Very helpfull!!!!!! GRAZIE DI CUORE

8th April 2013, 03:10 PM	#10
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Flavio, Russian archaeologists have very good Bronze Age research of the Steppe nomads; Early, Middle and Late with transitions into the Early Iron Age. Mostly analysis of kurgan grave goods, including bronze tools and weapons. Considerable material on the internet. Seem to recall there were fortified metalworking settlements in the Urals near ore deposits. Also may check out periodical published by the Russian Academy of Science in English, "Science in Russia" around 2000. Also, Naslide in Stavropol has done a lot of Bronze Age excavations in South Russia. I have a reproduction of a 700 BCE cast bronze axe head that had an two iron snake inlays along with incised fish as representations of ethnic cosmology. Blade edge had been hammered to "work hardened". Most (all??) bronze axes were cast in stone molds. Don't think bronze can be hardened with heat only alloy composition and mechanical working, but I could well be incorrect. Hope this helps. Ed