Implication of early pottery practice by women in Nigeria: A focus on women pottery practice in Akwa Ibom state

Abstract

The practice of pottery in Nigeria is commonly found among the women folk. The business of trading with products of pottery is also formulated by the women despite the burden of carrying the fragile wares from one market to another after production. It is in the light of women involvement in pottery business that Ladi Kwali was discovered by the English Potter Michael Cardew when he came to Nigeria in 1950. It has been observed that traditional pottery practice in Nigeria is almost dominated by the women and most of the pottery products are domestic wares which are mostly used by the women. This study is focusing on the involvement of women folk in traditional pottery practice particularly in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The common shapes of oval and round features are identified among the products of traditional pottery easily produced by the women potters. The crucial question which comes to mind in this study s investigation is whether the circular shapes of the products by the women has any leasing or influence from the round features found on ideal, African women. Ideally, an African woman have the characteristics of round face, round chins, round buttocks, round breasts and round tummy during fattening or pregnancy. These characteristics accorded to a beautiful African maiden who undergoes fattening or customary after-child-birth care are celebrated and applauded especially by the Ibibios (Akwa Ibom State). The influence of roundness for beauty affects the shape ofpottery products of women who are the custodians of myth and techniques of traditional pottery practice. No doubt, the Ibibio pots found at Jos Museum (Nigeria) and other places are noted as probably the most spherical pots globally. There are many implications in the practice of traditional pottery by the women folk in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.