A Study of the Pottery of Madam Sọlá Sódàmọ́lá Abàtì of Ìjàyè, Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria

Abstract

Africans as at the beginning have arts, cultures, philosophies and beliefs system that guide their conduct and way of life. Art is a pivot in which all other aspects of life rotate and thus, it has been used as visual tool of changes through various media. Their arts have also been used as objects of regulation, control and orderliness in the society for the overall well-being of the people. All these visual elements communicate and unveil the invisible. One of those media is the art of pottery of the Yorùbá people of Southwestern Nigeria. This paper therefore examines the art of traditional Yorùbá pottery of Madam Sọlá Sódàmọ́lá Abàtì with a view to establishing the relationship between her art forms, contents and Yorùbá philosophy. The study also discusses the relevance and patronage of the art in its cultural environment in the contemporary times. The study engages both primary and secondary data. The primary data includes qualitative approach leaning on field investigation where oral interview was conducted with the potter. Direct observation method was also employed, and photographs were taken. Secondary data were derived from published and unpublished articles to complement the primary data. The study employs Art historical approach using descriptive and contextual methods of data analysis. Findings reveal that younger people are no more interested in the profession which is a pointer to extinction in the nearest future, however the continuous practice of the art is possible because of the patronage it enjoys in the contemporary times. The study also discovers that in spite of the treats occasioned by the importation of plastic and metal containers into our local markets, traditional pottery is still on going because of its primary use in the society. The study therefore concludes that the socio-cultural and household relevance of traditional Yorùbá pottery cannot be likened to foreign products. The study thus encourages the continuous practice and preservation of the distinctive tradition for the promotion of Yorùbá artistic and cultural patrimonies.

Keywords: Arts, Philosophy, Personage, Traditional Yorùbá Pottery, Socio-cultural Relevance

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/84-01

Publication date:August 31^st 2020