Set of West African shackles acquired from Hausa traders, Burkino Faso. Two u-shaped iron fittings go round legs, the open ends threaded on a bar. One end of the bar is flattened to secure the hoops, the other end has a fastening consisting of a loop to which is attached a ring. The ring has a gap in it and comes off when twisted.

The Hausa were the principal long-distance traders in pre-colonial West Africa. From their base in northwestern Nigeria they travelled as far as Timbuktu and Jenne in Mali. They traded Kola nuts, salt and slaves. Leg irons and other metalwork would have been made of locally produced iron. Hausa blacksmiths settled in towns along the trade routes to make horse gear, sword blades, knives and farming implements.

These leg-irons were probably used by Hausa traders bringing captives to the coast to be exchanged with Europeans for trade goods.