Benue-Valley Culture (Nigeria)

Ancestral Pot

Late 20th Century

Terracotta

Tang Art Collection

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William Simmons

        Many African cultures view pots as metaphors for the female figure, with such words as shoulder, lip, mouth, belly, and foot used to refer to distinct parts of the vessels.  Particular emphasis on the female body is seen in these two pots, Zulu beer pot from South Africa and the Nigerian vessel from the Benue-Valley area.  Inherent within the relationship between the female form and the ceramic vessel are concepts of prosperity and wealth, and social and spiritual propagation.  When one then considers the intended functions and original contexts of these pots, the vessels are transformed from utilitarian objects into objects symbolizing the people’s deepest cultural beliefs.

        The Zulu beer pot features a chevron design repeated four times around the fullest part, or belly, of the pot.  This design is commonly found on aprons worn by pregnant Zulu women, where it is identified as the amasumpa "herd of cattle" motif.  The markings of the Zulu beer pot thus draw upon the procreative powers associated with women to reinforce the want of a plentiful yield of a nice beer.  The Zulu regard the quality and quantity of beer as an indicator of status and wealth, and beer pots such as this one are essential in weddings, funerals, birth ceremonies, ancestral rituals and offerings.

        The Nigerian vessel from the Benue-Valley area resembles those made and used by the Ga’anda people of Nigeria who until recently have practiced a process of scarification they call hleeta.  The hleeta designs serve as visual markers of girls’ transitions into womanhood and the realization of her reproductive nature.  Pots such as the one displayed here serve as containers for ancestors’ spirits.  The mimicry of female scarification patterns used in the decoration of these pots emphasizes the transition from a temporal to a spiritual realm, and suggests the ancestor’s rebirth in the afterlife.

                                                                                         Tricia Desmarais ‘02