Facts About Traditional African Pottery

Africans have been making pottery in Africa for countless thousands of years, with some of the earliest examples ranging back to the Ancient Egyptians that started to create pottery circa 6000 BC. Many of these practices then made their way south throughout the rest of the continent such as Ethiopia and the Sudan.

Over the years, the process of making traditional pottery has improved dramatically and many artworks are very much still in use today by the various Bantu groups that have spread throughout the continent. Even today, it’s not uncommon to find some truly beautiful African pottery at roadside stores and from private vendors. And each piece is part of a long and fascinating history, littered with interesting facts unique to that specific type of pottery.

Roman and African Pottery

As the empire of Rome spread across the world and took over more and more land, they encountered different methods of creating artwork and tools, and after they entered Africa from Egypt, they quickly discovered that traditional African pottery was far superior to theirs. Around 100 AD, hundreds of Roman pottery creators closed down shops as other kinds of pottery were brought into the cities and towns, leading to an entirely new revolution in how people styled their artwork. In fact, even some Roman emperors used Northern African cups and plates for their daily meals, a testament to their beauty.

The Factories of North Africa

Pottery production ramped up to such a degree due to massive Roman demand that small factories were founded across the top of northern Africa. As trade and knowledge grew between the east and the west, many African pottery factories began to imitate the methods of creation of the Chinese, who had superior pottery, such as China porcelain. With the better methods, it didn’t take long for new colours to be implemented, along with glass glazing that gave the creations beautiful and unique kinds of patterns that only contributed to their increased popularity among the Romans.

The Congo

The region that’s known as the Congo today became known for its unique kinds of pottery, many of which began to become more widespread around 900 AD. Many of these kinds were taller than Roman vases and were often made from a red clay that was found throughout the region. It’s possible to find modern iterations of these ancient potteries when travelling through the area, as many of the traditional methods of creating clay ceramics are very much alive and thriving and are fairly cheap to buy, which can easily be done with money won online at https://onlinenzcasino.co.nz/guides/real-money-casino-nz/.

Africa’s Oldest Pottery

Africa is known for being the cradle of mankind, and there is a lot of evidence that gives testament to this fact. One of the most important is some of the oldest pottery ever discovered, which has been dated by historians as far back as 9500 BC. This is a big deal for researchers, as it shows that people were creating storage around the same time that beer and bread were first invented.