Hands Crafts Industries

Hands Craft Handicrafts,Industries and Mining in Pre-Colonial Africa

Handcrafts can be defined as the art of using your skills and hand to designs and fashion things, or it's an activity done with on's hands requiring artistic skills. Such goods may include tools, baskets, and cloth to mention but a few. In pre-colonial Africa different hand crafts industries emerged as man specialized on to other activities apart from agriculture. These included iron making industries, basketry, spinning and weaving cloth making, carving, canoe making and many more.

The Meaning of Handcrafts, Industries, and Mining

Explain the meaning of handcrafts, industries, and mining

Mining industries:

Are industries which involve the process of extracting underground minerals such as copper, gold, tin and salt mining industries.

An industry is a place where transformation of raw materials into finished goods is carried out. The natural resources that existed in a given society determined the nature of industries to be found in a given area.

The Types of Industries and Their Advantages in Pre-Africa

Differentiate the types of industries and their advantages in pre-Africa

Types of industries

·         Iron industries

·         Salt making

·         Copper industry

·         Handcrafts industries

Iron industries.

The discovery of iron resulted in drastic socio-political and economic changes. The people who were dealing in iron were called blacksmiths a person whose job is to make and repair things made with iron, learns how to identify rocks containing iron ore.

In the way of trying to maintain monopoly over the knowledge of iron making it was kept as a secret and in many societies it was even ritualised (made a religious thing). Different society had different beliefs as many believed that the women were not allowed to furnace as it was presumed that the iron would be spoilt.

Methods of obtaining and processing iron:

Blacksmiths identified the rocks that were bore iron ore collecting them and smelting the iron found in the trenches or clay furnaces. They had to use charcoal fuel and maintained the high temperatures in the furnaces by fanning the live charcoal with bellows. The smelted iron was then shaped into different forms and tools like spear heads, knives, axes, panga and wire. The places where the iron industries were found included the Venda people of Northern Transvaal, the Mashona people of Zimbabwe, the Iteso of Eastern Uganda, along Kilambo falls, Futa Djalon, Meroe and many others.

Salt making industries

Salt is not only a food ingredient but was also used to preserve food. The increased use of salt resulted into the development of trade and agriculture as salt led to more food production, the use of salt was found in almost all communities as it was important in different communities.

Methods of obtaining and processing salt:

There are four methods of obtaining and processing salt in different communities, these included:

Traditional method

Under the tradition method salt was obtained from the reeds growing in marshy areas, gathered, dried and burnt to ashes. The ashes were then collected, filtered and the liquid was boiled to evaporate, the residue was used as salt. The Manganja people settled along Lake Nyasa commonly used this method.

Mining of salt bearing rocks

Rocks contained salt was dug out and the crystals were used. In here the rocks that contain salt are identified and are dug out, it is probably the most commonly used method of obtaining and processing salt. Place were it is used include Kasese, Bilma, Taghaza, Katwe and many others.

Boiling and evaporation

Under this method as the spring waters boil underneath the earth's surface, they do evaporate and spill over the land surface where they cool to form salt crystals which crystals are used as salt. This was commonly practiced in Uvinza, Shinyanga and also among the Venda people.

Developed among the coastal regions

Along the coastal regions salty waters were trapped into pans and left to evaporate the heat of the sun. The crystals that did remain behind after the evaporation of salty waters were then used as salt.

Gold industries

Gold is one of the most precious minerals and it was not found in every area as other minerals which makes it precious and valuable. The communities that mined gold showed drastic social, political and economic developments.

Methods of obtaining and processing gold

Panning method

This method was commonly carried out along the river beds where alluvial gold was extracted. It was somehow tiresome as people had to try several times in order to obtain the mineral. This method was common among the Sabi people living along river Zambezi

Shaft method

This method was commonly used in the areas with gold veins. Here the gold was dug out by using wooden, stone and iron hammers, then collected in wooden baskets and taken to furnaces were it was turned into different ornaments such as bangles, earrings plus many more.

Copper industries

The copper industry is believed to be the oldest industry that existed in almost all pre colonial African societies. Different societies did participate to the industries due to the fact that the copper existed in their communities.

Methods used in obtaining and processing copper

Identification of a copper belt

The copper was dug out and then taken to the furnaces where it was smelted. The smelted copper was turned into different tools which were relatively important to the society for example wire traps, knives axes etc. the areas that carried out this included places where the copper belt were found for example the Katanga copper belt and Kasese.

Handcrafts industries

Cloth making industries (weaving and spinning):

These industries were concerned with making clothes and developed in areas where cloth making materials were available. Spinning and wearing, making of bark –cloth developed in areas with cotton and appropriate tree barks.

Famous spinning and weaving societies in Africa include Yoruba people of West Africa, Sumbawanga in Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique as well as the people found in Lake Rukwa valley in Tanzania as for bark cloth areas North of Lake Victoria, interlacustrine societies for example in Buganda they used the Mvule tree to make (Olubugo) bark cloth which was very expensive and it was only the rich and the nobles who could afford it

Basketry and carpentry

Closely associated with agrarian societies whose style of life was more complex and sophisticated and in places that were privileged with palm and special reeds holding vessels specialised in the making of baskets and mats plus special leather work was needed for making leather clothes, sandals, bags, and beddings from animal skins and hides. It‟s associated with pastoralists such as Tuareg, Beja, Ajar, and Somali who made tents.

Canoe making

The art of making canoes developed in areas bordering lakes, rivers and oceans. Different societies who carried this had their major economic activity as fishing which in many cases supplemented agriculture.

This therefore means that nature of resources available in a given society determined the nature of handcrafts industry present in that society.

The Uses of Different Types of Minerals in Pre-Colonial Africa

Explain the uses of different types of minerals in pre-colonial Africa
All in all the handcrafts and mining industries had far reaching effects to the communities and societies of pre colonial Africa. Increased food production was evident as tool of production was improved up on through the technological development, trade was also increased as the volume of food traded and the demand increased this in turn acted as a source of income to many societies which later rose socially, politically and economically more settled populations and communities new political system and organizations, the blacksmith became recognized, influential and famous people in the society, the iron tools could dig and cut faster and deeper than the stone tools and many others.

Mining

This is the extraction of minerals from the underground parent rocks. By the period before and around the 19th century, minerals that were being mined in Africa include the following:-

Copper

Gold

Iron

Bronze

Silver

Salt.

Most of the minerals were to be taken to handcraft industries where they were then processed into different items. Some other minerals such as salt were to be consumed directly while some other minerals were to be used as media of exchange in trading activities.

Prominent areas in Africa where mining activities were being practiced include the following:-

Katanga in Zaire where there were copper mines.

Tshikapa in Zaire, Machili, Lusu, Klambo falls and Ingombe ilede.

Gokomere, Mabven, Malapiti and Chivi in the Limpompo valley of Zimbabwe iron wasmined.

Mashona and Matebele lands in Zimbabwe as well as Ashanti in Ghana where gold wasbeing mined.

Uvinza in Western Tanzania and Taghaza in Mauritania where there were extraction of salts.

Hand crafts industries

These were factories that manufactured different items through the use of machines operated manually (by hand). Such industries include those that dealt with metal works namely:

Iron processing industries

Copper processing industries

Salt making industries

The said metal working industries were mainly located near their respective mining areas. Prominent societies that were experts in metal works include:

The people of Chipembe, and Kalomo in Zambia, the people of Mwavarambo,Phopo and Nkope Bay in Malawi as well as the Yoruba and the Edo of Nigeriawho were experts in iron smelting industries.

The Shona and Ndebele of Zimbabwe, the Akan and the Asante of Ghana whowere famous in gold coast smithing industries.

The Manganja of Malawi and the people of Taghaza were experts in salt making industries.

Other industries apart from metal work industries dealt with cotton and raffia cloth making among the Fulbe, the Felleme and Trakrur of Senegal and among the societies Guinea and Zimbabwe.

Other industries were those dealing with Basketry, Pottery and wood carving. Wood carving industries were common among the Makonde of Tanzania and the Yoruba of Nigeria.

Items made from the said handcraft industries were to be sold in exchange with other products like agricultural products, animal products etc
                                     
Update:
The main focus in this topic is about development of different economic activities in Africa. The African they used their environment to conduct different activities for economic development. These economic development based on agriculture and technology.
Environment: Is total surroundings of man include man-made and natural features.
Land, water bodies, atmosphere, mountains, hills, Infrastructures i.e buildings, roads, etc.
 Technology: Is the scientific knowledge used to design and make tools. 
Development: Refer to progressive changes from low to high standard of living.

HANDCRAFT INDUSTRIES AND MINING IN PRE-COLONIAL AFRICA.
Handcraft industries: These were industries of which man used hands and skills to produce tools and weapons.
Industries-Is the place where raw materials are processed into finished goods eg cotton-cloth

Specialized handcraft industries in Africa.
Salt making industries
Iron working
Copper mining
Gold mining
Pottery making
Spinning and weaving industries
Bark –cloth industries
Canoe making industries


1. Salt making industries 
- These are industries which engaged in production of soil in pre-colonial Africa.
Uses of salt
It is used for adding flavor taste for the food in the kitchen.
It is used for preservation of food like fish and meat.

Methods of obtaining salt
1. From different reeds
Reeds were collected ,dried and burned, the ashes would be filtered while the ashes remain liquid would be evaporated and residue would be used as salt.
Places: - Near Lake Victoria, Kyoga, and Albert, among Baganda and Bahaya tribes and among Mang’anja people near shores of Lake Nyasa.
2. Boiling and evaporating method
Sea or ocean water put into pans and left to evaporate, the salt crystals would be collected and used as salt.
Places: around coastal areas.
3. Salt mining
Salt was mined under neath rocks.
Places: At Taghaza, Bilma around lake Chad in western Sudan.
Near lake Bangwela and river Luapala in central Africa.
4.Water by fire
Spring water containing salt was boiled and finally salt was obtained.
Places with salt; in uvinza salt spring along river malagarasi in central Africa.
Uses of salt.
1. Salt is used as an ingredient in cookery.
2. Food preservation.
3. It is used as medicine i.e. on freshly cut wounds
4. It was used as a medium of exchange (trade exchange).
5. Animal hides were cured using salt before used to make cloth.
6. In Egypt salt was used to preserve a dead body. (mummification )

IRON INDUSTRY
By the beginning of the 19 th century, most of the African societies were able to produce their own iron. The famous blacksmith in Africa was able to produce their own iron. In Tanzania there were iron deposits in Itewe near chunya, liganga, and Uluguru Mountains.
Nubian of Sudan along the river Nile.
People along Futa djalon and Niger river in West Africa.
The Mang’anja people of Malawi.
The Venda people of northern Transvaal.
The Mashona of Zambia.
There were also deposits in Algeria, Tunisia, morocco, Liberia, Sieraleone Angola, and Zimbabwe.
- In Ethiopia blacksmiths were not allowed to inherit land or even to inter marry with other people.
Uses of iron.
1. Iron was used to make agricultural tools.
2. iron was used to make weapons i.e. spears, swords etc
3. Iron was a medium of exchange, some people used iron bars or hoes as taken when paying bride price i.e. the Sukuma in the northern west Tanganyika.
4. Iron was also a measure of wealth, people who had more iron than others were considered wealthy.
5. Iron was an important trade commodity i.e. Masai traded cattle for iron weapons from the pare and the Kikuyu.
6. Some objects used in religious ceremonies were made of iron i.e. Yoruba and fon made iron objects to honour Ogun (the God of iron and war).


COPPER MINING AND THE PROCESSING INDUSTRIES.
The production and use of copper In pure colonial Africa was wide spread. Pure copper from the earth’s surface. By 300 BC, The Egyptians were already producing cooper. Ibo and Yoruba in Nigeria. Central Kafua River and the Gwai River in Zambia. South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo formerly known as Zaire.
Uses of cooper.
1. It is used to make ornaments such as bangles and earnings for example Ndebele women wore cooper and brass neckless, rings as a symbol of representing their husband’s wealth.
2. Used to make pots, pans and other utensils.
3. Used to make weapons such as daggers and knives.
4. Bars of copper were used as a medium of exchange and measure of value.
5. Copper was used as trade commodity.

Gold was one among the 1 st metals to be used in Africa. It was easy to find gold near the earth’s surface. In most parts of Africa, gold was found in the river bed, gold was obtained by washing gold bearing rocks for example river sabi and river Zambezi. in Ashanti and Gyain in Ghana and Meroe in Sudan.

Uses of gold.
It is used to make various types of ornaments for example rings, earrings, necklace and bracelets (made funery masks for the pharaohs in Egypt).
Gold used to make weapons for example knives, handles especially for important rulers.
Gold was used in making utensils such as plates, cups and spoons for the rich.
In Egypt gold was used to make coins.
Gold was an important trade commodity, in East Africa the town of kilwa became prosperous due to gold trade.
Gold was used as a currency as well as measure of wealth.
Rich people used gold to decorate buildings.
Other hand craft industries

POTTERY MAKING.
Pottery was practiced in areas where there was clay soil. Famous people where; Akamba, kisii, Batwa, Gisu and Pare.
Advantage of pottery.
1. Enables communities to make containers for cooking food.
2. Produced containers for storing water, milk, beer and grains.
3. Pottery produce items or goods for trade for example massai exchange cattle for pottery.
4. Pottery containers were used for serving food and drinks at homes.


WEAVING AND BASKETRY INDUSTRY.
Some people were skilled n making various items by weaving. The required raw materials included grasses, leaves and fibers. In East Africa the Lou were experts in basketry and Nyakyusa were experts in making mats.
Advantages of weaving and basketry.
1. Some communities built houses and boats.
2. Supplied communities with items such as beds and mats.
3. Provided items for trade.
4. Provided containers to carry loads easily, for example Kikuyu and Kamba(Kenyans).
5. Woven fish troops and nets.
6. Provided storage for agricultural produce.


TEXTILE PRODUCTION/CLOTH MAKING INDUSTRY.
Textile production is the making of cloth from different materials. Bark cloth was made from tree barks among the Nyakyusa, Buhaya and Buganda. Silk production was mainly in Nigeria and Madagascar.
Wool obtained from sheep, goat, and camel. Cotton was mainly grown by the Yoruba in Nigeria and in Guinea. A among the Fipa, items were made textile including prepared blankets, carpets and clothes.