The forge is not reserved only for Europe, although we very often hear about the French forge. In fact, several African peoples worked metal in their own way, even before the arrival of European settlers. We can read in this anthropological excerpt from 1872, which was given to us by Jacques Benmussa, that African tribes were forging iron in their own way, very skilfully.
Revue d'Anthropologie, Volume 1. Published by Paul Topenard, circa 1872.
Weapons and utensils used by the Cafes and the Bushmen
by Mr. Cari Ludolf Griesbach
"The various tribes of East Africa use iron weapons and tools that they make themselves and show great skill in smelting and working the metal. Among the Cafres, blacksmiths are numerous, but their metallurgical science is very primitive. Two rounded blocks of green stone carry an anvil on which the red-hot iron is beaten with a heavy hammer, while another native maintains the fire in a small hole dug in the ground. Two carefully sewn goat skins meet in a hollow bouvart horn, the other end of which looks out over the fire. By compressing one and lifting the other alternately, a current of air is established through the coals and produces a sufficient amount of heat. Forges as primitive as these are to be found all over the Cafe, Natal and the country of Zulu, as well as in Zambia, where the Cafes, though in contact with the Portuguese for three centuries, have not yet adopted European methods of metalworking.
All sat Cafes and arrowheads of the northern tribes are made by native blacksmiths, mostly by smelting iron directly into their ore. The natives also know how to make wire, and for this purpose use small iron plates with holes in them. Some northern tribes, such as the Amaswagi and Amandebeli, know how to mix metals to obtain bronze and bronze. In some places, tin is also known as tin."