The Ushafa Pottery Abuja: Explore the site where Modernity meets Traditions
History African@africanhistory
2 months ago
The Ushafa Pottery Centre, tucked away in the quiet village of Ushafa within the Bwari Area Council of Abuja, Nigeria, is a hidden gem that invites visitors into a world where clay and creativity merge, offering a glimpse into a rich tradition of craftsmanship and cultural heritage. When you step into this place, you find a simple, earthy setup, with mud-brick structures and open workspaces where skilled women shape raw clay into beautiful pots, their hands moving with a rhythm passed down through generations, set against the backdrop of rocky hills and scattered trees, though the hum of nearby village life reminds you of the balance between timeless art and modern struggles, making you think about how old ways survive in a changing world.
Inside the centre, the air is filled with the scent of wet clay, and you see rows of finished works, from big water pots to small decorative beads, all shaped by hand without machines, showing the strength and skill of the women, with the centre, started in 1990 by Maryam Babangida to help rural women, standing as a sign of empowerment, though the faded paint on the buildings and the quiet paths hint at years of neglect, adding a touch of sadness, and the stories of visits by big names like Bill Clinton, who came in 2000, linger in the air, giving the place a sense of past glory, while the struggle to find clay and the lack of visitors today make you wonder about the fight to keep this art alive.
The centre has a long story, rooted in the Gbagyi people’s tradition of pottery, with women learning from their mothers, shaping clay into pots for cooking, storing water, and even healing, and the centre’s growth into a tourist spot, once called “Bill Clinton Village,” shows its past fame, letting you stand in a place that has seen both highs and lows, from global attention to quiet decline, though some question if the centre’s focus on tourism has lost its original purpose of helping local women, making your visit a journey through time and questions about what progress really means.
The centre is tied to the village of Ushafa, a small place surrounded by rocks, where the people’s lives are linked to the land, letting you see how art and daily life mix, while it draws a few curious travelers and students on trips, showing its pull, though the story of its challenges, like bad roads to clay mines and little money, adds a twist, making you think about how art and survival meet, turning it into a place that makes you wonder about saving old crafts.
The area around the centre feels calm, giving you a break from city noise, and you can explore the rocky paths and nearby streams, adding some adventure, though there aren’t many tourist things right at the centre, so you need to bring your own food and water for the day, and getting there from Abuja is quick, letting you see the green hills, with local potters often sharing stories, making the visit richer, though without set guides, you might have to look for these tales yourself, making it a hunt for knowledge.
Going to the Ushafa Pottery Centre gives you a mix of art, old stories, and village life, set in a place full of quiet beauty, making it a must-see for anyone who loves crafts, African traditions, and the spirit of keeping things alive, with the extra feeling of being in a place that makes you think about skill, struggle, and starting anew.
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Photo Credit: Inside FCT
