IRON PRODUCTION IN THE NKAR ETHNIC GROUP OF THE GRASSFIELDS OF CAMEROON: THE PLACE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICAL PRACTICES

Abstract

In the production chain of the African iron working industry, symbolism was present all through these processes. The environmental and cultural context in which these operations took place, were reflected in the type of furnaces, and techniques used in each iron working agglomerate. Symbolism in this study is linked to traditional medical practice, which was identified in the iron working agglomerates in the Nkar polity. Nkar is found in the higher plateau of the Grassfields of Cameroon. This paper made use of primary and secondary sources; together with archaeological techniques as methodology. The study revealed that, in the Nkar ethnic group, traditional medical and pharmaceutical practices were absorbed by iron workers on part time basis. This probed up because, accidents occurred in iron, kaolin and flux mines, and in the dangerous activity of smelting and smiting. These incidents needed first aid treatment. The ability of iron workers to effectively handle these ailments; linked them to traditional medical practitioners as a societal phenomenon. This paper concludes that, the ability of iron workers to handle medical conditions demonstrates an element of symbolism in the African metallurgy, and that, smelters could experiment and implement pharmaceutical/medical procedure. They however, remained mystical in approach.