Ironwork of Sukur Kingdom: A Timeless Craftsmanship
Uncover the artistry and cultural significance of Sukur's ancient iron smelting techniques
Iron works production (2023-11-30)African International Documentary Festival Foundation
Iron smelting legacy
At the core of Sakun culture lies a profound connection to the ancient craft of iron smelting, a mastery passed down from the 16th to the early 20th century.
A family affair
The culture of smelting has been passed down through generations, It was a noble business for [most] every home. It was only a poor family in Sukur Kingdom that could not afford the cost of owning an iron smelting furnace.
Iron smelting sites
Iron smelting furnace sites are characterized by their broken walls and by iron slags littered all over the [hilltop] The magnetic susceptibility of the materials in the environment are very high indicating the presence of pieces of iron.
Iron Smelting the Significant Heritage of Sukur Culture (2023-08-16) by african International Documentary Festival FoundationAfrican International Documentary Festival Foundation
The bloomery process
A constructed furnace, known as a bloomery is used for smelting. The furnace is layered with alternating stacks of charcoal and prepared ore. The temperature and ratio of charcoal must be carefully controlled to keep the iron from absorbing too much carbon.
From bloomery to blacksmith
After the metal iron has been produced from a smelting workshop, the bloom would be taken to a blacksmith workshop for production of different tools and objects. The blacksmith refined it to a desired shape producing tools of different kinds from the iron extracted from the ore.
Forged tales of debul
Debul (iron bar) wasn't just metal; it was a currency of stories; thirty pieces of the rods were used as a dowry to marry a wife, three rods were used to buy a big bull, social tools were carved out of it and used during festivals such as Yawal celebration and other ceremonies.
Smelting technology
Most smelting workshops (factory) were built in a circular shape, constructed constantly at the higher part of the workshop. A shallow hole is dug within & a furnace is built with clay within 60cm to 70cm in height.
Crafting fire of bellows
The bellows are two in number, which correspond to the left and right hands. Bellows usually are covered with animal skin [and a drum-like beating motion pushed the air through the bellows. The tuyere is connected from the bellows and conducts the air into the smelting furnace.
Iron smelting in Sukur is not merely a technical process; it holds immense cultural value. The craft is often accompanied by rituals, ceremonies, and communal gatherings that celebrate the heritage of the Sukur people. The products of iron smelting serve both utilitarian and symbolic purposes, playing a role in everyday life as well as in cultural practices.
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A legacy forged in iron
The Sukur iron smelting tradition, a testament to ingenuity and cultural resilience, continues to shape the community's identity and practices. Its story echoes through generations, forging a bond between past and present.
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