Striking Iron: The Art of African Blacksmiths

Held from November 19, 2019 to March 29, 2020 at the Musée du Quai Branly museum in Paris, the Striking Iron: The Art of African Blacksmiths exhibition presents 230 exceptional artworks created by master blacksmiths from Mali, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and more over two and a half centuries. The exhibition is supported by Total Foundation as part of its commitment to promote all cultures.

The transformation of iron over the centuries has profoundly shaped African communities and cultures, from fields to homes and from battlefields to religious sites. Under the hammer of African blacksmiths, the ore has been smelted, forged and metamorphosed into objects of utility, empowerment and ritual potency, with sophistication and artistic sensitivity. Currencies, musical instruments, weapons, tools and elaborate ornaments, the collection features a myriad of shapes and sizes that bear testimony to the traditions and technical expertise of countries south of the Sahara.

As a major corporate patron of the Musée du Quai Branly since 2009, the Total Foundation regularly supports the museum's art exhibitions that honor the cultural heritage of the Group's host countries such as Mali, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.