Kajandu facts for kids
The Kajandu is a special farming tool. It is a long-handled shovel used mainly by the Jola people. They live in countries like Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. This tool helps them prepare their fields for growing rice.
Kajandu: A Special Farming Tool
The Kajandu is also known by other names, such as kayendo, kajendo, kadiendo, or kadiandou. It is a very important tool for rice farmers. It helps them get the soil ready for planting.
What is a Kajandu?
A Kajandu looks like a very long shovel. It has a long wooden handle, which can be from 1.6 to 3.5 meters long. That's about as tall as a small car! At the end of the handle is a large, flat or curved wooden blade. This blade has strong iron edges.
How is it Used?
Farmers use the Kajandu to prepare rice fields. This process is called tilling. Tilling means turning over the soil to make it soft and ready for seeds. The long handle of the Kajandu rests on the farmer's knee. This helps them lift big pieces of earth. It's also used to make dikes, which are small walls of earth that hold water in the rice fields. They also make furrows, which are grooves in the soil for planting.
Usually, men use the Kajandu to prepare the fields. Women then do other important jobs. These include sowing (planting seeds), replanting young rice plants, spreading natural plant food (manure), and harvesting the rice when it's ready.
A Look Back in Time
People have been using the Kajandu for a very long time. The first records of this tool date back to 1455. That's over 500 years ago! In 1685, a person named Sieur de la Courbe wrote a detailed description of how the Kajandu was used. This shows how important and lasting this tool has been for the Jola people. The Kajandu is similar to another tool called the kop or cop, which is used by the Baga people.
