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The social context of iron forging on the Kenya coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

Chapurukha M. Kusimba
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Extract

Ironsmiths occupy an important yet ambiguous position in many African societies. They are both revered and feared, because they wield social power which arises from their access to occult knowledge, not only of metallurgy but of healing, divination, circumcision and peacemaking. In some societies smiths enjoy high status and are the wealthiest people. In others they are feared, covertly maligned, and blamed for societal misfortunes. In still others the smiths' position is often marginal except when they are needed to intercede on their society's behalf to solve natural or cultural predicaments. The forge or smithy plays a central role in the community as tool-making centre, a place of refuge from violence, of purification, and for healing. This article examines the social context of iron forging among the ironsmiths of the Kenya coast, focusing on the role of iron forging in the coastal economy, the forge, the smiths' life cycle, the institution of apprenticeship, the ritual and technical power of smiths, the role of women in the smiths' community, and the future of iron forging on the coast. It is argued that, while coastal smiths are marginal and despised, they hold important ritual and spiritual powers in coastal society. The article concludes that a detailed understanding of the traditional crafts historically practised on the coast can do much to illuminate the complex history of coastal society.

Résumé

Les forgerons occupent une position importante bien qu'ambigüe dans beaucoup de sociétés africaines. Ils sont à la fois vénérés et craints parce qu'ils exercent un pouvoir social qui provient de leur accès à la connaissance de l'occulte, non seulement en ce qui concerne la métallurgie mais le guérison, la divination, la circoncision, et la pacification. Dans certaines sociétés les forgerons ont un statut élevé et sont les gens les plus riches. Dans d'autres ils sont craints, calomniés indirectement, et sont tenu responsables des malheurs de la société. Dans d'autres encore la position des forgerons est souvent marginale sauf lorsqu'on a besoin d'eux pour intervenir en faveur de leur société pour résoudre des prédicaments naturels ou culturels. La forge joue un rôle central dans la communauté en tant que centre d'outillage, refuge contre la violence, endroit de purification, et endroit de guérison. Cet article examine le contexte social de la forgerie du fer parmi les forgerons de la côte du Kenya, se concentrant sur le rôle de la forgerie du fer dans l'économie côtière, la forge, le cycle de vie des forgerons, l'institution de l'apprentissage, le pouvoir rituel et technique des forgerons, le rôle des femmes dans la communauté des forgerons, et le futur de la forgerie du fer sur la côte. Il est soutenu dans cet article que tandis que les forgerons côtiers sont marginaux et méprisés, ils détiennent des pouvoirs rituels et spirituels important dans la société côtière. Cet article conclut qu'une compréhension détaillée de l'artisanat traditionnel de la manière dont il était pratiqué historiquement sur la côte peut beaucoup contribuer à illuminer l'histoire complexe de cette société côtière.

Type
Maintaining meanings in the midst of change
Information
Africa , Volume 66 , Issue 3 , July 1996 , pp. 386 - 410
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1996

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