Woman Preparing Salt Near Okposi, Calabar, Nigeria, ca. 1930-1940

Tinted lantern slide showing a young, bare-chested woman preparing salt in front of a thatched hut in Okposi. Okposi is the site of a salt lake, and salt production began in the area from its first habitation. Women traditionally prepare salt, and are initiated into the industry following marriage. Salt is prepared in a specially constructed thatched hut (the Ewe), before which this lady works. She prepares the salt on a hillock (Okperede) constructed from brine, pouring fresh brine onto it to dry in the sun before it is boiled up to extract the salt. This slide comes from a set on mission, culture and industry in Calabar, southeast Nigeria generated by the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland (which was incorporated with the Church of Scotland in 1929.)