Content

PREFACE           

                                                                                                                   
1.0 THE BANGLE CULTURE                                                                                    

1.1 A spontaneous and unique culture

1.2 Bangles not rings

1.3 Precious metal; bronze – not gold or silver

1.4 The African style; weighty, chunky, solid

1.5 The defining material culture of sub-Saharan Africa

 

2.0 THE BRONZE BANGLE 

2.1 What is “bronze”? What is a “bangle”? Nomenclature

2.2 Bronze bangles – the supply

2.3 The distribution of metallurgical skills

2.4 Bangles for everyone

2.5 The demand

2.6. How did the bangle culture arise? The bigger story

2.7. A typology of bronze bangles?

 

3.0 OTHER MATERIALS 

3.1 Bronze is not the only material

3.2 Iron and ivory – the companions

3.3 The outliers – stone and gold

3.4 Animal, vegetable, mineral, including glass and glass beads

 

4.0 LIVING THE BANGLE CULTURE 

4.1 More than decoration

4.2 Barter: standard of value: store of wealth: medium of exchange

4.3 Martial uses

4.4 Beauty: “Il faut souffrir pour être belle”

4.5 Dance

4.6 Decline and fall

 

5.0 THE BANGLE CULTURE TODAY 

5.1 What is left in Africa?

5.2 Does the bangle culture survive among African Americans?
Books, films, et cetera

 

Bibliography

Index

Photographs

Present-day states of sub-Saharan Africa inside back cover