- Title: NIGERIA: Nigerian blacksmith wants the ancient art of iron making preserved
- Date: 17th February 2010
- Summary: AWKA, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC IN BUSY STREET HANDWRITTEN SIGN OUTSIDE SMITHY READING "BLACKSMITH" EZE OMEYI, BLACKSMITH IN HIS WORKSHOP, TENDING A FIRE OMEYI SHAPING METAL VARIOUS OF FARM TOOLS PRODUCED BY OMEYI DISPLAYED ON ROADSIDE (SOUNDBITE) (Igbo) EZE OMEYI, BLACKSMITH, SAYING: "We have been writing to the government for a long time to assist us but they don't respond to our plight. We have asked the government to provide a site for blacksmithing to enable us have a co-operative but they refused. The site would encourage people to learn to produce specialised item s- some would make hoes, others would make machetes, or even car locks. It would encourage young people to join the profession. But this has not been provided. We don't make money and the young ones have refused to join us." WOMAN BUYING ITEM FROM OMEYI'S WORKSHOP IRON COW BELLS AND OTHER TOOLS ON SALE OMEYI WORKING AXES PRODUCED BY OMEYI ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Igbo) EZE OMEYI, BLACKSMITH, SAYING: "No government, past and present has shown interest in what we are doing and they have not made provision to alleviate the problems we encounter in blacksmithing." BLACKSMITH APPRENTICE CHIWETE CHIBATA ARRANGING TOOLS IRON ITEMS ON SALE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIWETE CHIBATA, APPRENTICE, SAYING: "I am doing it just to help myself and even my father. He is getting old now so if he leaves (work) I will take over." METAL CONTAINERS ON DISPLAY BUSY STREET
- Embargoed: 4th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA3DZ0KUP9IUQT815H8P5WD3MSR
- Story Text: A Nigerian blacksmith in Awka, a town in Nigeria's southeastern Anambra state, which is famous for its ironwork, has urged the government to help preserve his handicraft.
Awka has been home to some of Nigeria's best blacksmiths dating back to the sixth century B.C., historians say. Metal workers in this part of country developed the technology that gave them an upper hand in life, because they were able to make hunting and farming tools to sustain themselves, historians say.
But with the advent of industrialisation in the region, this ancient art is in decline and only a few like people 74 year-old Eze Omeyi, still practise it in Nigeria.
Omeyi said apeals for government aid to set up training in the art of being a blacksmith had not been heard.
"We have been writing to the government for a long time to assist us but they don't respond to our plight. We have asked the government to provide a site for blacksmithing to enable us have a co-operative but they refused. The site would encourage people to learn to produce specialised items - some would make hoes, others would make machetes, or even car locks. It would encourage young people to join the profession. But this has not been provided. We don't make money and the young ones have refused to join us," he said
"No government, past and present has shown interest in what we are doing and they have not made provision to alleviate the problems we encounter in blacksmithing," he added.
Omeyi maintains a good number of customers who frequently patronise his workshop to buy items they cannot find in the conventional hardware shops in Awka town.
Items such as traditional musical bells, cow bells and hoes are in high demand in the region.
Omeyi said he is training his son Chiwete Chibata to take over from him when he retires.
"I am doing it just to help myself and even my father. He is getting old now so if he leaves (work) I will take over," he said.
Chiwete Cibata hopes to hand on the tradition to his own children in future. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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