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Storage containers
In ancient agricultural societies along the Nile in northern Sudan, storing the year's produce methods was prevalent to preserve crops, ensuring they remained in good condition and away from pests.
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In ancient agricultural societies along the Nile in northern Sudan, methods of storing the year's produce were prevalent in order to preserve crops, ensuring they remained in good condition and away from pests. Such societies were producer societies rather than consumer ones that mainly relied on agriculture for their livelihood and less so on grazing. Until recently, women in the Mahas region, particularly the island of Dagarta and its surroundings, passed down the method of making "Al-Gusyba" as an essential life skill needed to face the harsh conditions of life in the Northern State. It was considered a fundamental component of the household, made from the same material used to build houses: mud brick. “Al-Gusyba” can be likened to silos or containers for storing food, similar to pottery barrels, but without being exposed to fire - unlike the water jar (known as Zir) which must be fired to hold water without the risk of melting. Women make them from scratch to preserve the crops that the northern diet relies on, such as wheat, fava beans, and dates. But how are they made?
The housewife mixes clay and animal manure, then molds the base of the silo with a diameter of one meter or less. This base is crafted inside the house and left to dry completely. With the help of others, it is lifted onto a base of three stones to protect it from water and termite infestation that could damage it. It is placed in the yard or the outdoor area considered an extension of the house where it will remain permanently.
The second phase begins by molding more clay to create the wall. Height is added to the silo with a circular opening at the bottom through which the provisions that are to be used daily or weekly are taken. It is left to dry for several days before adding new layers. The final height of the silo reaches one and a half meters. It is sometimes decorated with designs to express the housewife’s style. Once dry, it is filled with storage and covered using a clay lid or a circular tin cover.
Worn out parts or those that have slightly melted due to rain are patched with a layer of clay to prevent moisture from reaching and damaging the crops. Naturally, anything that takes time and effort to make and maintain is replaced with an alternative, so the new metal and tin container has found a place in homes there, made in the form of a metal box with several compartments for storing different types of grains and crops.
Cover picture and Gallery © Aya Sinada, Dagarta Island, Northern Sudan, 2024
In ancient agricultural societies along the Nile in northern Sudan, methods of storing the year's produce were prevalent in order to preserve crops, ensuring they remained in good condition and away from pests. Such societies were producer societies rather than consumer ones that mainly relied on agriculture for their livelihood and less so on grazing. Until recently, women in the Mahas region, particularly the island of Dagarta and its surroundings, passed down the method of making "Al-Gusyba" as an essential life skill needed to face the harsh conditions of life in the Northern State. It was considered a fundamental component of the household, made from the same material used to build houses: mud brick. “Al-Gusyba” can be likened to silos or containers for storing food, similar to pottery barrels, but without being exposed to fire - unlike the water jar (known as Zir) which must be fired to hold water without the risk of melting. Women make them from scratch to preserve the crops that the northern diet relies on, such as wheat, fava beans, and dates. But how are they made?
The housewife mixes clay and animal manure, then molds the base of the silo with a diameter of one meter or less. This base is crafted inside the house and left to dry completely. With the help of others, it is lifted onto a base of three stones to protect it from water and termite infestation that could damage it. It is placed in the yard or the outdoor area considered an extension of the house where it will remain permanently.
The second phase begins by molding more clay to create the wall. Height is added to the silo with a circular opening at the bottom through which the provisions that are to be used daily or weekly are taken. It is left to dry for several days before adding new layers. The final height of the silo reaches one and a half meters. It is sometimes decorated with designs to express the housewife’s style. Once dry, it is filled with storage and covered using a clay lid or a circular tin cover.
Worn out parts or those that have slightly melted due to rain are patched with a layer of clay to prevent moisture from reaching and damaging the crops. Naturally, anything that takes time and effort to make and maintain is replaced with an alternative, so the new metal and tin container has found a place in homes there, made in the form of a metal box with several compartments for storing different types of grains and crops.
Cover picture and Gallery © Aya Sinada, Dagarta Island, Northern Sudan, 2024
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