By Yero S. Bah
It takes innovation and real imagination for one to excel in the art of pottery, especially in conservative societies like the Gambia, where sometimes, certain religious ideologies denounce such skills as ‘haram’ or forbidden trade, coupled with limited state or private interventions to uplift the lives of those in this industry of a globally-celebrated art and craft. These obstacles make the whole trade quite cumbersome to overcome in the Gambia, according to experts in pottery.
Mr. Sheku Kolley is the Production Manager of the Abuko Pottery Centre, and in an exclusive one-on-one interview with Mansa Banko Online, he painted a vivid picture of the pottery industry of the Gambia, noting Gambians are yet to recognize the art of pottery as a skill that could uplift the lives of citizens and bring in some meaningful national development projects for the country.
Kolley said his pottery initiative started in 2006 in partnership with the Community Development Project which has twenty two (22) centers around the Gambia, and through that, he was trained by some experts from Ghana on the art of pottery.
He reported that over twenty two (22) Gambian youth were selected for the training on tie and dye as well as pottery; but only six people had graduated as the rest “ran away” from the hard training program.
“Some youth were expecting cash during the training that never came; so, they ran away from the training program,” in his words. The Production Manager explained that during the peak of the project, they used to train Gambian women on entrepreneurship skills on pottery but since the main project phased out, coupled with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, that had been halted.
The Abuko Pottery Centre senior official went further to inform that initially, they used to purchase clay from Kanifing where a bag of clay cost them D150; whilst transportation to Abuko Pottery Centre would cost about D4000, he lamented that production is expensive for them.
“It was later we found out that the clay in Kanifing is mixed with sand; so we had shift our collection point to Foni Bondali and Mandinary,” Manager Kolley disclosed. He added that they were offered full contract together with accommodation in Goree Island in Senegal by one Senegalese woman, but they declined the offer, instead chose to serve their nation, maintaining it’s always good to support one’s country over others.
Kolley indicated that the coronavirus has affected their marketing strategies, saying before the pandemic women clients used to order couple of items but all that has stopped [as the time of this interview]. The artist’s vision is to create a full company that would create employment opportunities for Gambians, stating “we only need the funds to realize these objectives”.
For the Marketing Manager, Ebber Kujabi, he joined the pottery art to provide for himself in life, and it’s an art that is fulfilling that desire, as he is able to support his family. He called on fellow youth to learn skills to avoid idling, while positing that government and NGOs should render financial support to them as they help students sometimes in doing their practicals.
“How could you provide for your family or wife if you don’t have skills or haven’t completed schooling?” he rhetorically queried.
According to Sulayman Sanneh, a visitor and former teacher, the practical part of the Centre is amazing, that it helps students to not only concentrate on theories but even call on the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to employ such youth with expert skills in pottery and other art and craft in schools. “This will enable students to cover both aspects of the curriculum,” he added.
Among the products that the Centre produces are different types of cooking stoves locally known as ‘Furrno Jambarr’ for fire-woods or charcoals, attaya pots, ovens, flower vases, candle stands, and many others.
