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Loura Ekaale making a cow hide leather cover for an abarait circular wrist knife

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posted on 2023-11-30, 18:56 authored by Samuel DerbyshireSamuel Derbyshire
Having purchased metal in the form of an abarait circular wrist knife from Lodwar, Loura works on preparing a cover for its external and internal edges using a piece of cow hide. He buries the cow hide in the evening and, after uncovering it the next morning, cuts it into strips with help from his wife Nakiru. Having done this, he bends, squeezes and hammers the hide into shape, trimming it with his knife regularly. When ready, he grinds ochre on a course stone and applies it to the hide with animal oil to give it a red colour.

Funding

Endangered Material Knowledge Programme

History

Session

C006

Rights owner

Samuel Frederick Derbyshire

Cultural group

Turkana

Participants

Loura Echuman Ekaale, Margaret Nakiru Lopwenya

Country

Kenya

Place

Morusipo, Turkana

Item/object

Circular wrist knife (abarait)

Techniques of production

Beaten, Cut-cut, Applied-applied

Materials

Skin-cow skin, Emunyen, Ochre

Materials alt

Eleu a aite

Social group setting

Craftsperson at work alone

Location

Home

Date of creation

2020-04-23

Unique ID

2019LG02-C006-0482

Usage metrics

    Endangered Material Knowledge Programme

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