Life

One of the most fascinating technological breakthroughs by Ubulu-Uku people in the early days was the invention of “Mkpisi”.“Mkpisi” which was manufactured by Ubulu blacksmiths is a small sickle-shaped cut of metal, used to move or release a door bolt. It has a circled head and can be referred to as the modern day key that is used to unlock various kinds of padlocks. It islonger than the normal key and at the same time curved so that it can penetrate into the wooden doorto release the notch at the bolt attached to the inner side of the door.This tiny but very important object is the only tool needed to open the house of an Ubulu man four decades ago. It comes in different sizes depending on the type of door and the diameter of the holes which were usually created on the centre of the door, very close to the opening frame.Though the local key looks simple but a novice will surely fumble before unlocking a wooden door with “mkpisi”. Surely he/she must find it difficult, most especially if that person is not familiar with the mechanism. Before one can utilise the “mkpisi”, an absolute care and enough calculation was needed so that the tiny object can shift the bolt to and fro as desired.Despite the intricacies associated with the “mkpisi” opening tactics, old men and women at that time at Ubulu-Uku open their doors in one fell swoop. This old people would just insert the “mkpisi”, turn it rightor left and the wooden door is ajar. They know how to use the device and it has never disappointed themfor one day. They have also learnt how to keep it very well because it had no duplicate; once it got loss, it is always very difficult to replace, except, the doors were forced opened.Children find it very difficult to open doors with “mkpisi” because it takes the wisdom of an adult to manipulate successfully. That was why, during that period at Ubulu, house owners can drop this wonderful “mkpisi” at any corner of the house knowing fully well that it is only those who had mastered the art can open the door easily.However, some people who were very careful kept it with care. While old women tie it right inside their wrappers, others bury it inside the sand around the house. Some simply throw it inside a calabash gourd and many more leave it underneath any object close to the door so that they can pick it up and open their doors as soon as possible. There were some very suspicious elders who move along with this “mkpisi” wherever they go.Interestingly, the one that opens Adaeke’s door may not unlock Adafor’s own. They were carefully designed to match with the corresponding bolts in different houses. “Mkpisi” comes in a single form and it never came with extra. The only copy was therefore used for the house’s main door as only such door were normally given attention in terms ofsecurity.The “mkpisi” however does not work alone. The security system involves bigger compartments which were usually attached to the door inside the house. The compartments were made of a detachable lock with a movable semicircular bar at the top, the free end of which is usually passed through a hasp and then locked shut.Simply put, the compartment is essentially a bolt containing a notch. The bolt is moved backward or forward by engaging an “mkpisi” through a hole made at the wooden door. A notch attached to the bolt holds it in place once it is released by the “mkpisi”. This device contains one or more pieces ofmetal of different heights which intercept the bolt and prevent it from being moved until the hooking metals are raised or released by the action of an appropriate “mkpisi”.I took time to study this wonderful Ubulu-Uku technology and I found out there were much sense and wisdom in it. First, the design of mkpisi does notgive room for anybody to lock up the “mkpisi” forgetfully inside the house as this same “mkpisi” was required to lock the door at all times. Secondly, minors were permanently bared from opening the doors unnecessarily since they cannot be able to manipulate the “mkpisi” even when they have access to it. Above all, “mkpisi” was made in such a way that it was very durable, portable and at the same time safe as a means of locking system.Summarily, “mkpisi” was a major invention done by the people of Ubulu-uku many years ago. It is no longer fashionable but it is important that such aspect of our culture be kept so that the youth can get a clue of what life looked like years back.It will not be out of place therefore, to store an “mkpisi” in the archive so that children of nowadayscan have a feel of how it looks like in the future.ILLUSTRATION BY BEN IYIEGBUNIWE