Rethinking the Preservative Relevance of Pottery to the Development of Nigeria

Abstract

Pottery was invented largely because of man’s storage and preservative needs. However, African traditional preservative pottery seems to be receiving very low attention. This is, perhaps, due to the unnecessary scramble for imported technologies which are, undoubtedly, beyond the reach of many homes. The scramble has beclouded the people of Africa of the preservative functions of her local pots. It has also prevented the African from remembering that things stored in pottery do not necessarily require artificial preservatives which are clinically proved to be a major source of most western ailments (Ekong, 1994). The neglect of the preservative relevance of pottery has equally negated the development of the medium beyond its traditional level. This, therefore, poses the risk of its extinction. It is on this premise that this paper is put up with the aim of reechoing the relevance of pottery to the development of African States. This is in the area of storage and preservation technology. The objectives of the study are to highlight the relevance of pottery to the preservation of: historical materials, oil and perfumes, water and wine, grains and nuts, food items and; cinerary products. It was also set to show the relevance of pottery to holding offering for spirits. Survey method was employed in the study. Data were gathered through interviews, library and internet sources. The study shows that pottery is a dependable medium for preservation of material. It therefore recommends that the preservative characteristics of pottery should be explored, exploited and developed beyond its primitive stage as this would continue to enhance the development of Nigeria in particular and Africa as a whole.