The diversity that exists in African cultures is a phenomenon that can be traced back over thousands of years. Some communities comprised of village-based farmers, others of nomadic pastoralists whose livelihood was their cattle, and there were those ancient civilizations that existed as large empires. Even though their ways of life varied, these communities had several shared aspects to their lifestyles, one of these being the predominant use of iron tools in everyday activities.
The widespread use of iron on the continent occurred during the thousand years that spanned the 1st millennium BC. Popularly known as the Iron Age, this time period was characterized by the transition from using stone-made wares and the commencement of mining iron ores. Iron working became a central craft to the existence of many communities, with the production of farming and hunting equipment, weaponry, and jewellery increasing over time. About 2,000 years ago, some of these groups migrated and settled in present-day Kenya, bringing with them the iron forging techniques first practiced during the Iron Age.
Iron smelting was no easy task. Traditional clay furnaces known as bloomeries were used in the separation of iron from slag. In these bloomeries, iron ores were sandwiched between two beds of hot charcoal. Through a process of repeated heating, iron was extracted from the mixture, tempered and hammered to create various items. The complexity of the process was not understood by many, and those who possessed the knowledge to turn ‘stone’ into iron, the substance on which daily life depended, were regarded as very powerful.
Although their potence was undisputed, the societal ranks held by ironsmiths varied. Among many farming communities, ironsmiths occupied positions of power such as chieftaincy. On the other hand, many pastoral communities respected and disdained iron smithing in equal measure. While the smiths were revered for their knowledge, they occupied a lower caste than the herders because iron forging was regarded as a menial form of labour in contrast to the dignified work of herding. Nonetheless, iron workers upheld the defense systems, livelihoods and identities of their communities. The strength of a people lied not in its warriors or its leaders, but in its ironsmiths.
The impact of past iron use remains evident to date, with artefacts from these time periods lining our museums. This metal is also credited with inspiring the name of Kitui town which means, “the place where iron goods are made.” The characteristic strength, durability, and versatility of this mineral are illustrative of why iron ruled the world.
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