Firing of canon shots is a popular cultural practice in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. This area is predominantly occupied by the Igbo tribe and made up of five states – Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi. Canon shots are used for salutations, distress signals, announcing arrival and laying to rest of a departed important personality, and for some other forms of traditional communication.
Canon shots are called Mkponani by Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria. Canon shot is an improvised explosive device (IED) which is made of compressed gun powder and sand in metal jacket. The metal jacket is shaped into a pipe placed in the ground.
This video shows the process of preparing and firing canon shots. It is a mini-documentary shot in a village in the South Eastern part of Nigeria to show details of how to make canon shots. Watch below.