Alur Traditional House

Iuside the Alur House

Alur House

The View of Alur House

Information about the Alur People

Acholi House, Uganda Museum

The view of Acholi House

Information about Acholi

Technology and Art of Iron Working in Uganda

IRON WORKING IN UGANDA

By Mwesiga Elly

Introduction

Iron working or production is traced to have existed for a very long period of time between the 11^th and 16^th centuries that is the age of some of the tools. The Iron Age seems to have arisen from the adoption of food plants, the introduction of iron working and the development of slash and burn agriculture system using iron hoes and other iron tools like axes.   

The salt lakes region of South western Uganda could be said to have been one of the best iron producing regions in the pre-colonial East Africa with the most famous iron producing districts of Mwenge in Kabarole district, Buhweju in Bushenyi and Kayonza in Rukungiri district. Among these, Kayonza was also the most famous throughout the region.

Initially iron smelting was organized on a lineage basis each lineage having its own site on the hill where the whole clan mined. Before extracting iron ore, the lineage head made a sacrifice by slaughtering an animal, usually a goat which could be eaten by the members of the lineage at his home. The young men would dig iron ore from the rocks called Obutare using iron hammers to break the rocks into small pieces. Meanwile the charcoal for use in the smelting would have been prepared from particular kinds trees.

Before smelting the iron ore, shallow, clay-lined pits known as amaziko were dug in the ground that would act as furnaces. Small gullies were made on the sides of the pits where tuyere (pipe made of clay) would be placed. Joined to the tuyeres were pairs of wooden bellows called emijuba that were conical in shape with the apex fitted into the tuyere and the base shaped like shallow smoking pipes wrapped in soft goat or sheep skins.

Finally, 2 sticks would be fitted into the soft skins and these would be used by the workers to blast air into the furnace. After the furnace was prepared, charcoal would be placed on its surface. The pieces of iron ore would be put on top of the charcoal and another layer was put on top. Finally, fire would be lit in the furnace from the entrances where the tuyeres were placed. When the iron ore was heated, it would melt and percolate down to the surface of the furnace at the mouths of the tuyeres.

It should be noted that iron ore locations in most of the places belonged to the rulers of the states and kingdoms. Whenever the ruler wanted the iron implements such as spears and arrowheads, he would order the smiths to make them. The iron smiths like potters and traditional medicine men were highly respected and wealthy.

Most of other important Iron Age sites in Uganda apart from the ones in the salt lakes of western Uganda include Ntusi and Bigo bya Mugyenyi.

Ntusi

It is found 56 km west of Masaka town in the central Uganda and dates to the 11^th and is the oldest of the sites associated with Bachwezi. There are 3 archaeological features; 2 man-made mounds and a basin locally known as Bwogero.

Bigo bya Mugyenyi

It is found 16 km north of Ntusi and the discoveries from there included pottery, clay kerbs, beads, and the iron tools like a tagged arrowhead, a broken bracelet of oval shape, a spear and a broken knife as well as grindstones.

Importance

The production, distribution and trade of iron goods contributed to changes not only in economic but also in the socio-political complexity of the societies which led to the rise of states and the kingdoms since most of them had the introduction of the arms that would be used in defense for the protection of the kingdoms.

The making of the sacrifices before the opening of the place for iron ore mining, helped in bringing the people of the clan together that promoted unity and cooperation and strengthening the family bonds that still help people to live together in the communities and maintaining the traditional activities.

Most of these sites have very important for research on the archaeological features that are found there. The researchers have been trying to find out how iron smelting was done and most of the tools that were made. It is through research that most of the iron tools have been discovered from the sites

The surrounding communities have benefited from providing the services to the tourists like the foods and beverages in the accommodation facilities as well as provision of the market to the produce like the food stuffs and the souvenirs.

Some of these places being connected to the Bachwezi legendary, they are still used as the active shrines for the people from the surrounding communities that makes them of great importance to them and hence the need for their protection.

According to the Ankole tradition, Ntusi later became the capital of the Chwezi Wamala who succeeded his father Ndahura who had resided at Mubende hill. This therefore gives a cause for the protection by the Banyankole as the former capital.

Just as a hoe signifies the agricultural prosperity of the people, or again as the smiths’ hammer signifies strength and skill, so the iron spears has signified power and commanded in an equal obvious way. This therefore indicates that iron smith gave the kingdoms power and pride as they were regarded as the source of strong weapons.

There is a potential for tourism development in these sites as people can go to some of these earthworks for the heritage tourism on how the people used to carry out the iron smelting using the traditional means.

 Dangers of iron production

The production of iron tools permitted more forest clearing for agricultural land, higher agricultural productivity and population increases that has greatly affected the industry.

Because of land ownership and since there has been increased population around these areas like Ntusi, most of the areas have been cultivated that makes the protection of these sites difficult.

The introduction of the metallic materials from the western countries has made the traditionally made tools to be replaced and being regarded as backward that has made the work of the smiths to keep on disappearing and being replaced.

Lack of sensitization has made the work of the iron smiths not be recognized and the smiths themselves to live it because they do not see the importance of practicing it since they can not out compete the modern industries. Therefore there is a need for education and sensitization on the importance of the traditional activities like iron working.

 

References:

Collet. D P & Robertshaw P T (1980): early Iron Age and Kansyore pottery: Finds from Gigo falls South Nyanya: Azania; Journal of British Institute in Eastern Africa, Nairobi Kenya Volume xv

Gray J M  Riddles of Biggo, Reprinted from Uganda Journal Vol. II, No. 3 (pages 226-233)

Haland. R & Msuya C S (2000): Pottery production, iron working and Trade in Early Iron age: A case study of dakawa, East central Tanzania; Azania; Journal of The British Institute in Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

Kamuhangire. R E (1993): The Pre-colonial History of salt lakes Region of South Western Uganda c. 1000-1900 A.D (Thesis)

Lanning E C (1970): The journal of British Instituyte of  History and Archaeology in East Africa, oxford university press Volume V

 MTTI (2007): Uganda gifted by nature

Posnansky M : Bigo bya Mugyenyi offprint from Uganda Journal; The journal of The Uganda Society, Kampala

Sutton J E G (1990): A Thousand years of East Africa, British Institute of Eastern Africa, Nairobi Kenya

Vogel J O (1975): Azania; A Journal of The British Institute of Eastern Africa, Nairobi  Kenya