Hides and Skins

Hides and skins are the processed products of livestock—cattle, camels, goats and sheep—after the animal has been slaughtered. They are among the earliest materials people use to make goods: shoes, rope, containers, buckets, and musical instruments. Fresh hides deteriorate if not treated, so they must be tanned, dried or salted to prevent decay.

In Somalia, pastoralism is the economic foundation, and hides and skins have become both an export commodity and a product for domestic use. Hides and skins were long part of Somalia's port exports, with the pastoral interior supplying regional markets in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Terminology and Classification

Somali has many terms relating to hides and skins. "Harag" usually refers to tanned hide ready for use, while "maqaar" is used for raw animal skin generally. There are also specific names for finished products, such as "kabo" (for footwear), "buun" and the leather vessels made from hides for milk.

Processing

The standard method begins with cleaning the hide, removing fat and hair, then scraping and sun-drying it. Plant tannins from bark and leaves are used to make the hide soft and prevent it from hardening. Modern factories use chemicals such as chrome or synthetic agents, while small traders still rely on manual methods.

Social and Cultural Uses

Nomadic herders use hides for mats, rope, water and milk containers, and tethers for livestock. Hides are also made into drums and other cultural items. Cleaned skin has historically been used for writing and document preservation, a practice known in many parts of the world.

Economic Aspects

The value of hides depends on the quality of the raw skin: defects, visible marks, disease and damage during slaughter all lower the price. For this reason, tanneries and exporters encourage livestock to be killed hygienically. Tanning also produces wastewater containing chemicals, which requires environmental management.