COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Lions In a crowded Nigerian slaughterhouse blood, fire and smoke are normal working conditions.

http://youtu.be/4Ch8zL2_oWk

Filmmaker: Michael Glawogger

'Work is often difficult to see, and therefore difficult to depict. Physical labour is probably the only real kind of work.' Michael Glawogger

Physical work was once celebrated with hymns of praise. But today workers must be content in the knowledge that their hard work is better than no work at all.

Working Man's Death looks at the state of physical work across the world today. Work that is dreary, demanding and, at times, dangerous.

In this episode, we take a glimpse inside the bloody and frenetic activity of the Port Harcourt meat market in Nigeria. Here cows and goats are brought to the slaughter - then cut, roasted and cleaned for sale.

The slaughter yard offers a hellish vision of blood and smoke - viewers may find some scenes distressing.

As one worker there explains: 'My name is Ishaq Mohammed. My work day begins between six and seven am. Usually I get up at five in order to be at work on time. Killing goats doesn't bother me. Before I slaughter a goat, I utter God's name. Normally we slaughter 350 goats a day. Sometimes it's only 300. Other days it's only 150. But there are times when goats are in short supply. And then we might have no more than 10 or 15. And sometimes we even have no goats at all.'