Bahima milk container, c.1950

A wooden milk container, known as ekyanzi, was made in Uganda, Africa by the Hima/Bahima tribe in the mid-20th century. It measures 9-1/2″ tall, with a 2-1/2″ diameter opening. The wonderfully graphic indigenous repairs, including zipper-like alternating folded tabs to mend cracks, and coin-shaped plugs to fill holes, are made of recycled aluminum. The equally graphic woven covers are not always found with the pots and are collected independently.

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A Bahima girl with her family’s wooden milk pots. The lighter colored pots are made from gourds.

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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One Response to “Bahima milk container, c.1950”

  1. Gwen Betz says:

    Fantastic! Creative repair and tinkering lives on. Thank you for this unique look.

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