Iron Smelting Technology

Over past centuries, the iron smelting technology shaped a new mode of life economically and politically. It later became “a cultural pillar” of the Rwandan kingdom.

 During colonial period and due to the widespread of scrap iron, this technology gradually became obsolete. 

Iron ore was the raw material from which iron was extracted and also used for manufacturing metals in precolonial Rwanda. To ensure a successful smelt and good quality metals, the smelters mined ore from different sources, mixed them and pounded them. 

They are the main air-supply devices in ironworking activities. The most known are wooden bellows, but clay bellows were also used in Rwanda. Wooden bellows have double pots covered with a sheep skin. To ensure flexibility, they are greased with cow butter a day before use.

The smelting was an operation that took place for six to seven hours. To ensure a constant air supply, there is always a team of smelters waiting to take over from their fellows during their break time. 

At the end of operations, the result of a successful iron smelting would produce an iron bloom which the blacksmiths take into the hearth for purification and eventual iron tool for forging different metals. Some examples are spears, arrows, hoes, knives, swords, and axes.

This iron tool, was and still a key item of material culture in Rwanda. Its primary function was in Agriculture to cultivate the soil but it had some other economic and social function. It was used in barter trade as a bargaining counter and in matrimonial negotiations.

Apart from serving as a weapon, the spears also had a religious and ceremonial significance.

Umudende, a symbol of bravery and prosperity, was a special award given to warriors who had killed seven enemies in battle, dogs that had killed seven animals in a hunt, or mothers who had given birth to seven children without a miscarriage.

Spears, hoes and hammers were part of the dynastic rituals which were the symbol of the monarchy. Dynastic hammer was a sign of power and was also considered as the Imana (God), for the most powerful soverign. They were part of the furnishings of the funeral ceremonies.

A tool that typically would have been suspended over the entrance of an enclosure for royal audiences.

With a long metallic blade and wooden handle, the sword and sheath was used as a weapon.

It was used for decorative purposes especially at the royal court. 
Spears with different shapes were offered to the King at his enthronement as well as spears that belonged to warriors who distinguished themselves by their exploits and spears brought back from battles as trophies.