An Ethnographic Investigation into Charcoal Production and Blacksmithing in Keffi

Since the pre-colonialist period charcoal and iron have been one of the major economic activities among people of Keffi area. Moreso, this, was a demonstration of their earliest forms of technological initiatives. In the pre-colonial Keffi, the people had acquired the knowledge of iron workings and their attendant charcoal production, and had combined both charcoal and iron for the purpose of their economic survival. A cursory survey of Keffi town today shows that the rate at which charcoal is being used trigger some questions such as: In addition to the use of charcoal for blacksmithing what other uses was charcoal put to? What are the sources of charcoal and how charcoal was produced? What was the relationship between charcoal and blacksmithing? These and several other questions constitute the focus of this paper. Findings, with close attention to the above questions show that there was (and still are) some critical relationships between charcoal and blacksmithing. In addition to providing fuel for the blacksmith functions, charcoal has been utilized for several other functions. These include roasting of yam, maize, meat, etc. Several sources were utilized to generate information such as oral interview administered across Keffi town, to a selected individuals (professional blacksmiths) and women roasting maize, yam, etc). This was because no single source is complete on its own. All sources of information check and balance one another. Earlier between 1902 and 1906, one of the act of colonial administration in northern Nigeria area, was the promulgation of a number of laws including the act on land (proclamation of crown lands) by which indigenous mining and smelting tin and iron ore were prohibited. Observing that the Nyankpa people were still actively, engaged in mining and smelting of iron ore which was “a step in the right direction” the administration decided to invoke the land Act which made it illegal to engage in such activities. The proclamation destroyed virtually all the iron smelting in Nyankpa land. The felling and burning of trees for charcoal was also prohibited. Any disruption in the production of charcoal was capable of affecting the entire working and stagnating the entire process of technological development of the Nyankpa people. Thus, having knocked out indigenous iron smelting and blacksmithing industry, the colonial administration contracted for the supply of hoes from Messrs Black more Ltd; which were to be used as part payment for wages and for the sale to the peasants. NAK SNP6/288/1912: Hoes Ordered by Mr. H.S.W. Edward from England.