‘If it dies, it’s on you’: Saving Nigeria’s Benin bronze casting
Summary
In Benin City, Nigeria, local craftsmen continue the traditional art of bronze casting by creating detailed statues using molten bronze poured into clay molds. This work takes place in small workshops where metal and smoke fill the air, and the process is a skilled, hands-on craft passed down through generations.Key Facts
- The bronze casting takes place in small foundries in Benin City, Nigeria.
- Craftsmen pour molten bronze into clay molds buried in sand to create statues.
- Each part of the statue is made separately and then joined together.
- The artists pay close attention to details like facial features during the work.
- The craft is a long-standing tradition native to the area called Benin bronze casting.
- The workshops are informal spaces often located near neighborhood bars.
- The craft is part of daily life and cultural heritage for people on Igun Street.
- The work involves both skill and communal interaction, with breaks for socializing.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
