The uses made of analyses of copper alioys from West Africa are critically discussed in relation to the techniques by which metal was produced in contemporary Europe and Islamic lands. The conclusions of this study are that it is likely to be very difficult to provenance the metal source, or date the artifact by composition except in the rare case of high zinc brasses. Some analyses of European copper alloys, manillas, and further samples from Igbu-Ukwu are given. See also AATA 17-1531 for another study of copper alloys of the medieval Islamic world. -- AATA