list of figures - Terry Sunderland

transformation. Hence, more commonly, small quantities of cane are purchased on a
regular basis. For the same reasons of lack of storage and capital, some artisans will
not buy unprocessed rattan on a regular basis at all without actually having
commissioned work. These artisans will only purchase raw material “on command”,
i.e. when rattan products are commissioned.
Figure 103. Frequency of wholesale rattan purchase by artisans (n = 174)
Once a month
20%
On command
8%
Twice a month
23%
252
Twice a week
6%
Thrice a month
13%
Once a week
30%
7.5.2 Rattan artisan enterprises
7.5.2.1 Introduction
Almost without exception, the majority of commercial rattan enterprises currently
operating in Cameroon are privately owned. These enterprises produce a wide range
of rattan products, mainly concentrating on furniture and other household items such
as woven lamp shades and flower baskets. The production of temporary market
baskets for “buyam sellums” is an important component of the rattan artisan trade.
7.5.2.2 Number of workers and sources of labour
In general, artisanal enterprises are small operations and invariably consist of a single
owner / artisan. However, some craftsmen are supported by a number of apprentices.
These apprentices are trained by the owner/artisan, and they are primarily responsible
for the processing of the cane prior to transformation 6 . In general, apprentices are not
6 In the African context, processing of raw rattan essentially entails the removal of the epidermis (skin)
from the stem and the drying of the raw cane prior to its use. Immature stems, or the very apex of
mature stems, where the leaf sheath is also present are not used, and are often left or discarded at the