Whoever invented Mortar in Rwanda, well my God go bless you 😭😓😪😭
First, it is difficult to find, I only got some at Kimisagara Market from a lady who took me to her house to buy from the ones someone ordered at 20,000RWF.
The type of wood is most likely unsuitable cos it cracks as it dries, cos it is made/sold undried.
The Pestle has exactly the same shape with the all over, so it is basically 2 by 2 stick with both ends the same.
Now to the uses and why their invention works for them. Rwandans don't pound Akpu, they have Cassava for it, but they ferment it and dry the cassava then grind into powder to make Ubugali, they don't pound banga, I've never seen a palm fruit tree in Rwanda, palm oil is imported, they don't pound crayfish and fresh pepper, etc like Nigerians and Ghanaians
They only pound Cassava leaves (Isombe) to the best of my limited knowledge, that's what they use mortar for.
So it is rare to find it as a regular kitchen utensil, pounded cassava leaves and the other vegetables needed for Isombe soup is sold in weighted measurements at markets, so it gets bought as a paste.
I tried to teach a few Rwandans how to male Akpu and sell to Nigerians and other West Africans as a business.
But the few seemed not to be interested, citing the stressful process, need for strength and they seem to just lacked the ingenuity and interest to learn new things.
Whenever you visit Rwanda, try Isombe, ignore the looks, it is a very healthy nutrition!