What do we know about blacksmithing techniques in Africa ?

[Zan]

I wish to add my humble personal observations.

Here is a picture of a Dogon blacksmith in Mali (2005). I found him in a tiny village near a great cliff. The other picture is a knife bought to him (but clearly not new !).

The working boy is his son. His father learned his art from his own father. The young fellow is activating a typical forge made of two "drums", a "Y" pipe and a charcoal fire.

The Dogon are no longer using their own iron ore found by mining : they buy it in town from time to time.

The village's blacksmith is mainly forging utilitarian things, but occasionaly traditional knifes. The Dogons are not a warlike people, so swords are not made by those workers.

Sincerely,
Zan