Chapter Four
Some Mud Stove Technologies in East Africa
A range of mud stoves and mud-mixing technologies are found and promoted in East Africa.
Mud-mixing technologies
Communities have developed very innovative ways of mixing and
binding mud. The technology lies in the skills of selecting, mixing
and moulding mud and binding with or without reinforcement.
Grass is commonly used for reinforcement. The binding properties
of mud are improved by the use of cow ding, murram and liquid
obtained from certain plants such as mlenda, sweet potato vines
and several species of the aloe plant. Resistance to heat is
improved by use of ash and vermiculite. This helps to prevent
cracks.
Some communities have developed mud stoves in
response to dwindling firewood supply. Recognition of such stove
technologies is one step forward towards enhancing their
promotion and dissemination.
Mlenda
Figure 4.1 The aloe plant
One example of a mud-binding enhancing vegetable is the mlenda plant. Makonda is the liquid
obtained by soaking mlenda in cold water for at least ten
minutes. The liquid when mixed with soil makes the mud
sticky. Its binding properties were discovered by potters in
the Mwanza region of Tanzania. Mlenda is an indigenous
vegetable commonly found in many parts of East Africa.
Makonda is a viscous and slippery liquid. It is
usually used in mixing clay soil to make mud for producing
pots and other pottery products including stoves in the
Figure 4.2 Leaves of the mlenda plant
Ukiriguru area, Mwanza region of Tanzania. The
technology is promoted by a team from the Ministry of
Agriculture Training Institute – Ukiriguru (MATI-U).
Mud mixed with Cement
This technology is practised by Tanzania Traditional Energy and Environment Organization (TaTEDO)
in the dissemination and installation of mud stoves and ceramic stoves around the peri-urban areas of
Dar es Salaam. It makes dissemination of the mentioned stoves easy and manageable in a situation
where the community does not entirely own its soil materials or land.
Clay soil obtained in the peri-urban areas of Dar es Salaam is mixed with a small quantity of
cement and the mixture is used in the installation of the wood burning stoves made by TaTEDO. The
practice is only possible in areas where cement is accessible.
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