Iron Smelters of Eremi, The
- Synopsis
- Shows in the traditional methods of iron smelting and forging used by the Madi of Uganda. In Eremi only one old man knows how to smelt iron. A younger man goes digging some eight miles away for iron ore, carrying it back to Eremi in a basket. Meanwhile, good fire clay and logs are collected and a fire lighted. This begins the long process of keeping the fire going with bellows worked by two men in the heat of the sun, until finally, after a hard day’s work, the smelting is complete. The iron emerges in a coating of clay which has to be chipped away to leave a lump of crude iron. The iron is taken to a homestead about six miles away to be forged. This requires two people, the smith and a helper who pounds the iron with a stone, all day to complete the task of shaping it into a bride-price hoe. The film provides a unique record of a virtually obsolete smelting technology, and gives a clear idea of the toil and skill required to smelt and forge iron in this traditional manner.
- Language
- English
- Country
- Uganda
- Medium
- Film; Film. 16mm. sd. col. 25 min.
- Technical information
- Black-and-white / Sound
- Year of production
- 1963
- Availability
- OUT OF DISTRIBUTION
- Uses
- Undergraduates, postgraduates.
- Subjects
- Anthropology; Technology
- Keywords
- ironmaking; Madi; Uganda
Credits
- Director
- Michael Crosfield
Distribution Formats
- Type
- Film
- Format
- 16mm
Distributor
- Name
Royal Anthropological Institute Film & Video Library, c/o Concord Media
- sales@concordvideo.co.uk
- Web
- http://www.concordmedia.org.uk/ External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 01473 726012
- Fax
- 01473 274531
- Address
- Rosehill Centre
22 Hines Road
Ipswich
IP3 9BG
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