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In West African, several cultures, especially the Baule and the Lobi use slingshots. Primarily they are used by young boys to frighten away birds from the crops, such as when the family's millet is ripening. They are also used to hunt small animals such as lizards, frogs, birds and bats. They are also used to occasionally scare off predators as well as for play, (it is common for the boys to hold competitions to see you can hit the farthest milk can. Traditionally gut straps and leather were used, however today used bicycle inner tubes are often employed for the slingshot portion. As the climate in West Africa is quite dry, most times these have rotted away and only the carved wooden handle remains.
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