Kissi Penny Forging

Heat an iron bar, hammer it into a long twisted rod with a flat T-end and a leaf-shaped foot, hitting on the beat while the colour of the iron shows the right moment.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of Africa: Sahel, West and Central.