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Which West African peoples made wrought-iron sculptures?
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African art
Raffia-fiber cloth, made by the Kuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, mid-20th century; in the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
In West Africa, several peoples are noted for their traditions of creating wrought-iron sculptures. These include the Dogon, Bambara, Fon, and Yoruba peoples.1
These iron works often served ritualistic purposes. For example, blacksmiths among various groups produced ritual utensils such as single or double gongs, as well as staffs topped with human, animal, or equestrian figures.2