Tools

Sansevieria leaves and their uses 

Sansevieria and its leaves used to be a genus of flowering plants that originated in Africa and southern Asia. This former genus has about 70 species with common English names such as mother-in-law’s tongue, bow string hemp, snake plant, and…

Chewing sticks for dental care in Southern Africa

Chewing sticks, or toothbrush sticks, were widely used in former times from Ethiopia down to the southern tip of Africa. Nowadays, plastic toothbrushes are commonly used and only in very rural parts of this area, chewing sticks are still commonplace….

Wax extraction from honeycombs

For wax extraction, the empty combs are first put in water which is heated until the wax melts. The liquid is then poured through a piece of coarse cloth and while still hot this is twisted or squeezed until as…

Throwsticks as weapons in the African bush

Kerries are a combination of throwsticks and wooden clubs, used as an every-day tool for hunting, defense and/or digging in Southern Africa. Australian aboriginals used a refined form of throwsticks, which was flattened over its whole length and was called…