Sentence:  [...] while open <WSD>bonfiring</WSD> was practiced mainly by women and universally used in African traditions where it has a very low failure rate. It has been characterized as technically simple though in fact it requires a hyper refined combination of specific clay body, fuel, firing technique and atmospheric conditions - formulas derived from local experimentation mainly by generations of women. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To fire (pottery) using a bonfire.