Metalworking in Africa South of the Sahara: An Annotated Bibliography

(Hardback)

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Description

The knowledge and use of metals has played an important role in the evolution of many African cultures. This bibliography brings together, in one volume, publications on the origins, spread, mining, smelting, smithing, use, functions, aesthetics, significance, and impact of various metals and their alloys on African cultures. Covering African metallurgy from the African Iron Age to the present, this guide is a useful reference tool for archaeology, anthropology, ethnology, history, art, and religion. Arranged geographically by country, the volume is fully annotated and includes both printed and electronic sources.

Reviews

the topics covered include the orgins, spread, mining, smelting, smithing, use, functions, aesthetics, significance, and impact of various metals and their alloys on African culture. Most ealier bibliographies covered specific metals, such as gold, or were not annotated; thus Lwaal makes a significant scholarly contribution bt being more comprehensive. Lawal has done a commendable job, one that no electronic search of numerous databases could equal.-ARBA
Lawal's welcome and important reference work contributes to a rapidly growing research field in Afircan studies. Focusing on metalworking, the compiler casts her net widely, treating technical and social aspects of metals and metal objects and citing sources both primarily and peripherally concerned with aspects of the subject. Understanding the complex of metallurgy, trade, and the ideology of power has been essential to recent historical reinterpretations of complex societies in Africa... Highly recommended for research libraries.-Choice
The result is that METAL WORKING IN AFRICA SOUTH OF THE SAHARA...is a treasure of information on the metalworker's art over a wide expanse of the african continent.-Blacksmith's Gazette
"the topics covered include the orgins, spread, mining, smelting, smithing, use, functions, aesthetics, significance, and impact of various metals and their alloys on African culture. Most ealier bibliographies covered specific metals, such as gold, or were not annotated; thus Lwaal makes a significant scholarly contribution bt being more comprehensive. Lawal has done a commendable job, one that no electronic search of numerous databases could equal."-ARBA
"The result is that METAL WORKING IN AFRICA SOUTH OF THE SAHARA...is a treasure of information on the metalworker's art over a wide expanse of the african continent."-Blacksmith's Gazette
"Lawal's welcome and important reference work contributes to a rapidly growing research field in Afircan studies. Focusing on metalworking, the compiler casts her net widely, treating technical and social aspects of metals and metal objects and citing sources both primarily and peripherally concerned with aspects of the subject. Understanding the complex of metallurgy, trade, and the ideology of power has been essential to recent historical reinterpretations of complex societies in Africa... Highly recommended for research libraries."-Choice

Author Bio

IBIRONKE O. LAWAL is Coordinator of Branch Science Libraries at the University of Virginia, Science and Engineering Libraries.