Tanzanian Blackwood

Blackwood is a member of the Rosewood tree family and grows to full maturity in 70-200 years. Due to various factors, much of the woodlands in the rest of Africa have been depleted.

Communities in Southern Tanzania have been active in gathering the wood or felling the blackwood trees on behalf of the sawmills that process them. Demand for African blackwood is due to its unique qualities for woodwind instruments, primarily clarinets and oboes. African blackwood is core to the definition of high quality woodwind instruments and a proportion of the retail price is specifically attributable to the type and quality of the wood.

In addition to its use for instrument production, African blackwood is sought after by craftspeople in both Tanzania and abroad. The waste produced from the manufacturing of instruments is significant – around 75% – as only the flawless heartwood is used for clarinets. This scrap wood is valuable raw material for the Makonde people of Tanzania, whose wood carvings are some of the best in east Africa. Traditionally crafted for ceremonial purposes, these carvings are now an important export product. Outside of Africa, specialist craftspeople use African blackwood for turnery, inlay work, and small constructed items such as jewellery boxes.

Retailers always note if a clarinet is made from the exceptional grenadilla wood, as the wood is a key selling point for clarinettists. Skilled techniques are involved in manufacturing an instrument, yet the wood is the essential raw material and a valuable component of the finished product.

Blackwood trees are community resources. Currently Tanzanian communities cutting and gathering the wood are receiving $0.05 equivalent for every clarinet produced, with an average retail price of around $5,000. The Tanzanian export sector earns about $30 per clarinet while the wholesalers/ manufacturers are receiving around $2,500. It is important to note that the cost of crafting the clarinet is about 25-40% of the final retail cost and the craft is highly skilled.

In addition to grenadilla wood, clarinets can be made from rosewood, hard rubber, or plastic. Plastic clarinets are often sold to beginners at a considerably lower price range than wooden clarinets, ranging from $200 to $500. Rosewood and blackwood clarinets can retail from $2,000 to as much as, exceptionally, $22,000. The average price of a grenadilla clarinet is about $5,000 for medium to high quality.

A comprehensive business strategy with IP elements could directly help communities where the grenadilla wood originates to capture a greater share of the end price. Blackwood cutters, gatherers, artisans and processors could develop a direct relationship with instrument makers and retailers, stressing the integral role of blackwoods in the production of fine woodwind instruments. IP business tools could be used to build a new identity, or cobranding element alongside existing brands, for all instruments made with blackwoods.

As blackwoods are a natural resource subject to sustainable supply constraints, Tanzania could, within this strategy, restrict the supply of blackwood to those prepared to engage in marketing work to develop a clearer association in the minds of both users (musicians) and music lovers (audiences) of quality instruments with Tanzania’s unique resources.

Concerns have been voiced regarding the physical sustainability of the blackwood tree. In full project design of initiatives to capture these opportunities, many production, environmental and institutional issues would need to be integrated. Long term resource management can be enhanced if connected to increased income to blackwood cutters and gatherers.

Experts believe that Tanzania could capture an additional $10-15m annually of the estimated $100m total retail value of the clarinet market and in partnership with users and audiences might be able to build an additional blackwood artisan business worth $200-300m.

Value chain analysis will be available here shortly.

Africanblackwood.com
http://www.africanblackwood.com

African Blackwood Conservation Project
http://www.blackwoodconservation.org

“Stocks and exploitation of East African blackwood: a flagship species for Tanzania’s Miombo woodlands?”
Ball, Stephen M.J.
Oryx 38.3 (2004): 1-7

Buffet Crampon
http://www.buffet-crampon.com/en/news.php

“Key Issues for Players of Musical Instruments made from African Blackwood (Mpingo) in the UK.”
Paul Harrison
Environment Africa Trust, Dar es Salaam, 2008

“A Summary of the Supply Chain for African Blackwood, Market Economics and Opportunities for Community Forest Certification”
Paul Harrison
Environment Africa Trust, Dar es Salaam, 2008

“International Trade in African Blackwood.”
Jenkins, M., Oldfield, S. and Aylett, T.
Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge, 2002

“Bridging the Gap - Linking timber trade with infrastructure development in Southern Tanzania: Baseline data before completion of the Mkapa Bridge”
Milledge, S.A.H. and Kaale, B.K.
TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa, Dar es Salaam, 2005

Music 123
http://music123.com

Prosono International
http://www.prosono.co.za

“Tanzania: Diagnostic Trade Integration Study”
World Trade Organization, Geneva, 2007

The Global Trees Campaign
http://www.globaltrees.org/reso_tree.asp?id=1

Woodwind and Brasswind
http://www.wwbw.com

Paul Harrison, Environment Africa Trust

Steve Ball, Mpingo Conservation Project

Francois Kloc, Buffet Crampon

Tom Ridenour, Ridenour Clarinet Products

James Grondin, Woodwind and Brasswind