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The article discusses the Western awareness of the cultural dimensions of African metallurgy. Metals played prominent roles in African history and prehistory. Indigenous African metallurgy assumed not only economic significance but also included social organization and hierarchy. African metals assumed social roles, whether as dowry, burial offering, political decoration, taxes, gifts, alliance symbols, territorial conquests, tribute, or agricultural tool. They also symbolize rites of passage such as legitimizing assumption of positions of authority.