GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In the early eighteenth century pottery activities became widespread and was scattered in many parts of the world, suitable deposits of clay in some areas enhanced pottery activities in some local centers like in Bristol, Derby, Worcester, Glasgow and North Staffordshire, but the activity was much based on domestic system.[1] Pottery activity were equally undertaken in Wudil in Northern Nigeria but mostly carried out by women who use local raw materials and simple tools to produce items which were of high quality and less cost. This activity improved rural life reduces the rate of unemployment and improved living standard in these areas.[2]

Local craft and industries played a vital role towards economic growth and development. The availability of clay materials, it numerous domains of application and it short process of treatment are the base of socio-economic development for most villages in the North west region of Cameroon (Western Grasslands) which was the case of Bali Nyonga and Bafut. Bali Nyonga is noted for artistic works like carving, weaving, blacksmithing and pottery. However, Bamessing being one of the thirteen villages in the Ndop plain could be raided first and Babessi raided second to those who were actively involved in pottery activities. The availability of natural endowments greatly contributed to the growth of this activity in Bamessing. Natural resources like iron ore, clay, wood and bamboo just to mention a few greatly facilitated the growth of the pottery activity

 Pottery is one of the oldest human activities that was carried out in Bamessing. During the reign of Fon Mbo Kanmangwe, the tenth Fon of Bemessing an old man named Naha learned the technique of making pottery.[3] The American society for testing and materials defined pottery as all fired ceramic wares that contain clay when formed except technical, structural and refractory products. Archaeologist held that pottery originated before the Neolithic period with ceramic objects like Gravettian culture of Venus of Dolni discovered in the Czech Republic dating back to 29000-25000 BC. To archaeologist pottery meant vessels only and figures of the same material called terracotta. The availability of clay had influenced this activity following a field research in Bamessing, 23 types of clays were discovered but according to that research only two types of clay were used for pottery products. These two types of clay are black and grey which are mixed in the ratio 3:1 to mold products. Most of the clay used is dug during the dry season so as to take advantage to sun the clay.

 Pottery is the process of forming vessels and objects with clay and other ceramic materials which are fired at high temperature to give them a hard, durable form. This activity was carried out in a place called pottery or potteries. Bamessing like any other village in the Ndop plain is well noted for its artistic works especially carving and weaving, smiting and pottery which the population are actively involved in. In terms of its contribution to the economy of chiefdoms in the Ndop Plain pottery activities could be rated second to smiting. This could be viewed from the sizeable population that engaged in the trade as well as the vital role pottery played in both intra-regional and inter-regional trade of the local communities. Pottery activities were more widespread than Smiting and principle centers were Bamessing, Babessi Babungo and to a lesser extent Bamali. But Bamessing appeared to have been the most proficient craft with items like soap bowls, figurines, Tobacco pipes, tiles of various types, tea cups, jars, statues flower vases, tool box, musical instruments, oil lamp, pots of various sizes and uses etc.

 Pottery was mostly a seasonal profession undertaken during the dry season immediately after the harvest period. Although both sexes engaged in pottery activities men produced mainly pipes and undertook long distance trade in the pottery items. In recent years, pottery activities had decline due to competition from other pottery centers like in Babungo, Babessi, Bamali and Bali, but however the opening of PRESPOT (Presbyterian Pottery center created in Bamessing in 1983) to serve as a development project of the Presbyterian church led by Hans Kinopfi guaranteed local producers a fair income and promote pottery activities in this area. This activity had employed over 150 people both men, women and children who are directly benefiting from the activity. The opening of press craft was associated by new techniques such as porter’s wheel, table wheel, scale, glaze material, trough, the cone and wood kiln. All these new innovations had raised up this activity. However, from 2002 the activity witnessed a decline resulting from disagreements and sanctioned of some skilled workers by the manager of PRESPOT, thus the present situation of the country is a contributing factor for the closure of PRESPOT in Bamessing. The researcher therefore embarked on detail findings about this age-old activity

 Statement of the Problem

The location of Bamessing in the Ndop plain had promoted pottery activities in the community. The availability of natural resources and raw material as earlier mentioned like clay, bamboo, made pottery practice to be rated second to Smithing industry in the region notably in Bamessing where pottery items were produced in larger quantities and for different uses. These items were mimbo pots; mimbo jugs pots for brewing corn beer, large pots for water storage, big and small cooking pots and soap bowls. Their personal and material needs made pottery activities inevitable since they had the raw materials especially clay which eased the act of pottery in Bamessing. This study examined the geo-historical set up of the study area and trying to investigate into the circumstances that surrounded the decline in the age-old pottery craft in Bamessing since at least 1973

Research Questions

 In the course of writing this paper titled The Dwindling Fortunes of the Bamessing Pottery Craft, the researcher is bordered with some key questions which are the main discussions on this piece of work.

What was the geo-historical context of pottery Activity in Bamessing?

What were the types of items made and evolution of pottery activity in Bamessing?

What factors led to a decline in the activity?

What were some of the challenges faced by these potters and significance of this practice? 

Objective of the Study

The central objective view the study area in relation to local craft works like pottery which was a major activity undertaken by the inhabitants of this area since their earliest settlement. Behind this central objective there are subsidiary objectives which become key issues to be handled in this study. It is important to examine the circumstances that surrounded the decline in the Bamessing pottery craft.

To examined the Geo-Historical antecedents to pottery activities

To examine evolution and pottery items produce

To assess the declining aspect of the Activity

To analyze the challenges and significance

[1] David Taylor, Pottery Industry 1700-1900(Macmillian Master series, MACM ) Page 10

[2] Ahmadou Bello, The Wudil Pottery Economy (University Press Limited Zaria Kaduna state, Nigeria)Page 13

[3] Nicolas Argenti,Is This How I Looked When I First Got Here?Pottery And Practicedin The Camereoon Grassfield (British Museum)Page 5