Proposal for Sustainable Alternatives to Charcoal in Blacksmithing

TLDR

• The village of Komakundi in the Mamba Kaskazini ward has a blacksmithing tradition that has existed for over 300 years.
• Local knowledge states that blacksmithing was introduced by a woman from West Africa who taught the locals the craft.
• Leonard Ngowi, a local councilor, has witnessed blacksmithing practices since childhood, passed down through generations.
• The Komakundi Blacksmiths group, led by Ombaristo Makundi, continues to preserve traditional skills and integrate them into the local economy.
• The production of iron historically involved using iron-rich soil from the Pare region, processed with charcoal and intense fire to create tools.