A Glimpse Into Daily Life and Traditional Craft in 1967 Chad

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In February 1967, film footage captured the vibrant rhythms of life near Fort Lamy. From the intricate process of lost-wax metal casting to the rhythmic labor of farmers preparing soil for planting, this visual record preserves a snapshot of agricultural and artisanal traditions in the Republic of Chad.

The 1967 footage, documented as Reel 11, offers a rare look at the material culture of the Fort Lamy region. The film captures a variety of daily activities, including fishermen hauling nets, river transport via poled boats, and bustling market scenes where produce was measured with gourd cups. These images provide a tangible sense of the infrastructure and social organization present during the nation's early post-independence years, a period marked by the implementation of the 1966–1970 Five-Year Plan under President François Tombalbaye.

Technological and artisanal practices are highlighted throughout the reel. The footage records the preparation of lost-wax assemblies for firing, a complex metallurgical process, alongside more domestic tasks like the use of specialized fireplaces and counter-weighted poles for raising water. The film also documents educational and religious practices, showing individuals writing in Arabic, likely copying suras from the Koran onto wooden boards using ink and brushes. These scenes illustrate the integration of traditional knowledge and religious scholarship within the community.

Agricultural life is depicted with a focus on both storage and cultivation. The film shows large straw granaries elevated on stilts to protect harvests, as well as flat clay surfaces designed for drying vegetables and leaves. Perhaps most striking is the documentation of five men working in unison to break up hard dirt clods before planting, emphasizing the importance of collective labor rhythms in the local economy. This archival material serves as a vital record of the Republic of Chad as it was presented to the world during the era of the 1967 Expo.

The preservation of these records allows for a deeper understanding of the Republic of Chad’s historical landscape. While the official 1967 government booklet outlined national goals for education, health, and finance, the film footage provides the human context for these ambitions. By documenting everything from market bird-deterrents to the construction of hut tops, the reel captures the ingenuity and daily persistence of the people during a pivotal decade in the nation's history.

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