An Ethnographic Study of Nupe Pottery at Badeggi: A Chaîne OpératoireApproach

Abstract

This study presents an ethnographic investigation of Nupe pottery-making
traditions at Badeggi in the Bida Basin, Niger State, with particular attention to
the chaîne opératoire of ceramic production. Employing participant observation,
oral interviews, and desktop surveys, the study presents the entire production
sequence, from clay acquisition and preparation through vessel forming,
decoration, firing, and post-production use. The analysis demonstrates that Nupe
pottery-making embodies a sophisticated body of indigenous technical knowledge
grounded in material science, artistic skill, and cultural symbolism. Findings from
this study reveal that the craft is predominantly practised by women and children,
with men participating marginally in clay mining and marketing. The study
indicates that pottery retains multifunctional value within Nupe society, serving
domestic, ritual, economic, and symbolic purposes. Despite the increasing
dominance of plastic and metal substitutes, Nupe pottery endures as a resilient
cultural practice, adapting to contemporary conditions through modified
decorative techniques and shifts in production strategies to meet market demand.
The ethnographic evidence presented further highlights the role of
intergenerational knowledge transmission, communal labour organisation, and
environmental adaptation in sustaining the craft. The study concludes that Nupe
pottery should be regarded as a dynamic indigenous technology that continues to
shape identity, sustain livelihoods, and preserve cultural heritage in the Bida Basin.