Public Face of Islam in Kumasi
By Gracia Clark
Aluminum Casting
Creator: Clark, Gracia
Contributing Institutions: Gracia Clark; MATRIX: Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences at Michigan State University
Contributor: Array
Description: Aluminum casting has no logical connection to Islam, but has become an occupation identified with Muslims in Kumasi. Decades ago, the VALCO aluminum refinery at the Volta Dam produced quantities of scrap metal from its smelters and manufacturing processes. Northerners predominated in recycling cardboard, paper, and other metal scrap, so they became expert in recycling this aluminum into sturdy cooking pots of many sizes for sale all over Ghana. The complicated melting and casting process uses lost wax molds made of sand, also used by Asante brass and goldsmiths for making their renowned gold weight figures, gold jewelry, and even spare keys. The close-knit community of workshops in one spot helps expand markets fort he pots by reassuring buyers of their standard size and quality..
Date: July 2009
Date Range:
Location: Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana
Format: Video/mp4
Language: Twi
Rights Management: For educational use only.
Digitizer: Paz,Carmen