The Vulcanizer Mapping Project – An Afrobutylism Archive
Introduction:
A growing archive of vulcanizer shops across Ghana, this project documents the labor, materials, and vernacular architectures of roadside tire repairers. Mapped by artist Dela Anyah under Afrobutylism Studio, this ongoing work functions as both a visual archive and a research tool—preserving the knowledge, spatial adaptations, and stories embedded within these informal sites of repair. The evolving structures—primarily built from salvaged materials, adapted to climate and space—are as much a subject of interest as the labor they shelter.
About the Project
The Vulcanizer Mapping Project is a long-term artistic and archival research project by Afrobutylism Studio. Initiated by artist Dela Anyah, it maps and documents vulcanizer shops — informal tire and inner tube repair stations — across Accra and other regions of Ghana. These spaces, often overlooked, serve as critical sites of labor, reuse, and knowledge in the urban environment.
By photographing, tagging, and mapping these locations, the project aims to:
- Preserve the knowledge systems and repair cultures within vulcanizer spaces
- Understand their relationship to climate, waste, and material cycles
- Highlight the human and social networks sustaining these spaces
- Build a future-facing archive for researchers, urban planners, and cultural workers
Fieldwork Methodology
The research for The Vulcanizer Mapping Project is grounded in site-specific fieldwork, focused initially on Accra as Phase I, with plans to expand to other regions across Ghana. The documentation process combines visual, spatial, and conversational methods to build a nuanced and evolving archive of roadside vulcanizer stations.
Site Selection & Mapping Criteria
Shops are selected based on proximity during material sourcing trips and visible activity from the roadside. During material purchases, I ask vulcanizers for permission to photograph their space. In some cases, I also inquire about compensation for photographing their shops. When I encounter shops while in transit and cannot stop, I take quick reference photographs with the intention of returning for a more thorough visit. These moments often guide the next steps of documentation.
Data Gathering Tools & Process
All photography and GPS data are captured using an iPhone, allowing for mobile and discreet documentation. Sites are tagged and organized using Google My Maps categorizing entries as active or abandoned (based on repeated visits). Each site visit is accompanied by notes on materials observed (e.g., inner tubes, used tires, compressors), shop layout, and any improvised or modular structures. Occasionally, I conduct brief audio interviews and gather ethnographic details about the vulcanizers’ practices and working conditions.
Why This Archive Matters
Though still in its early stages, I imagine this archive serving several future purposes:
- Recycling and waste management: It could provide valuable data to emerging recycling companies, helping them identify concentrations of tire waste and plan more efficient collection routes.
- Architectural research: Scholars interested in vernacular and improvised architecture might use the archive to study how these workspaces evolve in response to spatial, economic, and material constraints.
- Anthropological insight: It may serve as a resource for anthropologists exploring the everyday lives, informal economies, and social dynamics of vulcanizer communities in Ghana.
- Public utility: Drivers and road users could benefit from a mapped network of vulcanizer shops, especially in areas where services are needed but not easily found.
Legend:
15 - Active sites
1 - Permanent Installation
3 - Non-active sites