Job de Graaf in his wanderings around Dodoma in Tanzania came across this active group of women making salt in the traditional way.

Although Dodoma is the Capital City of Tanzania in the immediate surroundings people still live in a very traditional way. The Wagogo tribe live of the dry arid land; many people keep cattle and grow dryland crops like sorghum and groundnuts.

 The photographer came across some interesting group of women who were making salt in a very traditional way. Sand rich with salt is dug from a dry lake bed and mixed with water. It is filtered through a layer of grass in calabashes and buckets. The water seeps into a hole and is then scooped in a bucket. The brine is boiled in flat pans and it is fascinating to watch the brine rapidly turn into salt. The salt is laid out to dry and ready for sale.

 Job de Graaf was amazed by the way the work was organized and how everybody had their roles. He was also told about the different types of wood they were using, the grasses to sieve the brie, how they were reusing the soil after the rainy season, where they were selling their salt, lots of talking but at the same time working.  "It is definitely hard work, but I understood that the women were quite satisfied with the income they get from the sale of salt" Apart from the use for cooking this rough salt is also used for curing meat and hides.