Investigation of Indigenous Pottery Traditions and Modern Ceramic Art Practice in Abuja, FCT

Pottery occupies a unique position in Nigerian material culture as both a functional craft and an expressive art form with deep roots in pre-colonial societies, and the relationship between indigenous pottery traditions and contemporary ceramic art practice in Abuja warrants descriptive investigation. This study investigated indigenous pottery traditions and their relationship to contemporary ceramic art in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory. A qualitative descriptive design was adopted, combining fieldwork at three traditional pottery communities (Kwali, Gwagwa, and Abuja National Pottery) with studio visits to eight contemporary ceramic artists practicing in the FCT. Data collection included structured interviews with fifteen potters and three ceramic art educators, photographic documentation of forms and techniques, and documentary review of historical pottery records at the National Gallery of Art. Results revealed a clear distinction between the hand-building and low-fire techniques of traditional female pottery communities and the wheel-throwing and high-temperature kiln practices of studio ceramicists. Traditional Kwali pottery production has declined significantly due to cheap imported plastic and aluminium containers. Contemporary ceramic artists referenced traditional forms as aesthetic inspiration but rarely engaged in active technical knowledge transfer with traditional communities. The study concludes that indigenous pottery knowledge is insufficiently documented and inadequately integrated into art education. Recommendations include formal apprenticeship bridges between traditional potters and university ceramic programmes and a national registry of indigenous pottery traditions facilitated through NCAC.

Keywords: indigenous pottery, ceramic art, Kwali, Federal Capital Territory, craft traditions