Abstract
The pottery narratives of Nigeria majorly linked with the activities of a great British potter Michael Cardew who Established pottery centres in Nigeria, and trained many Nigerians in Pottery. Cardew studied under Bernard Leach (1887 – 1979) who travels extensively and taught pottery around the world.Leach studied pottery under Master Kenzan VI in Japan and returned to England in 1920 to establish his own pottery at St. Ives with Shoji Hamada. The impact in pottery created by Cardew in Nigeria from 1950 is a direct British Pottery influence imparted to him by leach at St. Ives. A British potter and artist, Kenneth C. Murray studied pottery under Bernard Leach at St. Ives in 1929 and returned back to Uyo in Nigeria to produce and teach students pottery. Murray produced pottery wares from the Kiln he built at Uyo and took his students to exhibit the ware along with other art works at Zwember gallery (Britain) in 1937. Chief Adam Joshua Udo Ema also studied pottery in 1949 in Britain and later returned to work as a pottery officer at Okigwe Pottery centre as well as established three pottery centres in Nigeria Namely; Ikot Abasi Pottery centre at Etinan, Pottery centre at Mbiafun Ikono, and pottery centre at Ikot Ntot in Abak. Many other Nigerian studied pottery in Nigeria. Lady Kwalii pottery experience was influenced by Michael Cardew. Her pottery influence seen pottery products exhibited in various parts of the world depicted a coordination of Niger and British Pottery influences. A case study design is considered for methodological approach. Data were taken from primary and secondary sources and analyzed respectively. British influence on Nigeria is indeed outstanding.
Highlights
In considering the British Pottery influence on Nigeria, it would be pertinent to reflect on the components of Great Britain.The British Isles has two sovereign states namely; the Republic Ireland and the United Kingdom.Countries of the British Isles had a British Monarch as the head of state from the union of the crowns in 1603 till when the republic of Ireland Act was in 1949
British pottery influence impacted on Nigeria pottery practice beyond the colonial years
The coming of the British colonial masters to Nigeria brought significant influence which cut across economy, socialization, science and technology, politics, education, religion, art and culture, but the researcher is focusing on the British influence on the pottery or ceramics produce in Nigeria. [4] observes that the pottery wares of Ladi Kwaili who was outside traditional potter, but later trained by Michael Cardew, were noted for expressive surface embellishment notably used among the Gwari people
Summary
In considering the British Pottery influence on Nigeria, it would be pertinent to reflect on the components of Great Britain. He spent greater part of active years of his pottery practice in Nigeria from about 1950. Nigeria had and still has very rich pottery tradition before Cardew came to start the pottery training centres. According to [1], Ladi Kwali was trained by her aunt in 1930s as apprentice potter even though her mother was a potter This tradition of pot making was found in places clays were found in Nigeria was practiced mainly by women, probably because the women are the immediate users of pots. The named potters studied pottery in the United Kingdom before 1950 and practice pottery in Nigeria. It is likely that they brought British pottery influence to enhance pottery practice in Nigeria. They introduced Kiln building and firing of wares, throwing of wares on potter’s kicked wheel and glazing of pottery wares published in March
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