Two men of the “mir” caste are strengthening the furnace structure by ropes made of tree fibers. Note the holes for inserting tuyeres (Fur: “borongot”) at the base of the furnace.
Toumra, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1978
Tag Archives: Iron furnace
Photo 36 – UBB-HAA-85
Two men of the blacksmith/potter caste (Fur: “mir”) are preparing the furnace for the iron smelting process. Fur farmers generally use the same word “nonum” for furnace and granary. Both granary and furnace are metaphorically linked to two different aspects of womanhood; one with woman as mother (granary – it is the mother who is responsible for cultivating grain to feed her children), and the other with woman as sex partner (furnace – smelting activities are explicitly associated with sexual intercourse). The blacksmiths, however, use a special word for the furnace, namely “bood”, probably because it is a specialized term among these stigmatized craftsmen. Note the ferricrete sandstone in the foreground.
Toumra, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1978
Photo 37 – UBB-HAA-113
Men of the blacksmith/potter caste (Fur: “mir”) are making tuyeres of clay to be attached to the bellows (Fur: “swi”) used for blowing air into the furnace during smelting of iron (Fur: “daura”). While ordinary pottery making is performed by women of the “mir” caste, the making of clay tuyeres is undertaken by men.
Toumra, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1978
Photo 38 – UBB-HAA-110
Men of the “mir” caste are making the clay tuyeres (Fur: “borongot”) required for blowing air into the furnace during smelting. The making of tuyeres can easily be associated with sexual intercourse and during the work the “mir” entertain themselves with a rich repertoire of songs with rather explicit sexual metaphors.
Toumra, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1978
Photo 39 – UBB-HAA-115
Men of the “mir” caste are inserting tuyeres (Fur: “borongot”) at the base of an iron furnace. Note the painted decoration on the body of the furnace.
Toumra, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1973
Photo 43 – UBB-HAA-87
Preparing ferricrete sandstone for firing in the furnace located behind the blacksmith.
Toumra village, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1978
Photo 44 – UBB-HAA-86
Men of the “mir” caste are filling up the furnace with sorghum stalks to be used for igniting firewood (Fur: “ar”) and charcoal (Fur: “minina”) that is filled in later.
Toumra village, Northern Darfur.
Photo: Randi Haaland, 1978
