Ron du Bois and
Alhaja, Master Potter,
Dada Compound,
Ilorin, Nigeria,
West Africa, 1988
Ron du Bois, Faculty Exhibit. O.S.U. Art Department, Stillwater, OK, 1986.
Ron du Bois with village dignitaries and Raphael Ibigbami, (ceramics instructor, Art Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife) Ishan Ikiti, Nigeria, 1988.
Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. The museum houses the pottery collected in the 1960's and early 1970's by Ulli Beier and Georgina Beier. Among these are wedding vessels estimated to have been made in origin and age can not be estimated with certainty. The collection is now under the direction of the Nigerian National Museum, National Commission for Museums and Monuments. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Shango Ritual Vessels. Earthenware. Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Shango ritual vessels and lidded forms. Earthenware. Ita Yemoo Musem of Yoruba Potter, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Shango Ritual Vessel (Shango odu) Terracotta, No. 66.1.13, Ita Yemoo Museum of Youruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Shango Ritual Vessel (Shango odu) Terracotta, (Reverse view) No. 66.1.13, Ita Yemoo Museum of Youruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Shango Ritual Vessel (Shango odu) Terracotta, No. 66.1.13, Ita Yemoo Museum of Youruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Shango Ritual Vessel (Shango odu) Terracotta, (Reverse view) No. 66.1.13, Ita Yemoo Museum of Youruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Terra-cotta vessel (ikoko Shango), No. 73.1.12, Ita Yemoo Museum of Youruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Height, 14 1/2" inches. Width, 14 inches. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Terra-cotta ritual vessel (Shango odu) No. 66.1.16, 13 1/4" x 10 3/4", Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Ifa Divination Vessel, earthenware. Estimated 14" wide, 16" high. Incised decoration, Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Shango Ritual Vessel (Shango odu), terracotta. Two identifying numbers are marked on this vessel: (1) 66.1.12, (2) 72.3.20, 8 3/4" high, rim diameter 9 3/4", Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Terracotta vessel (Shango odo), detail, No. 66.1.14, 15 3/4" x 13", Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Terracotta vessel (Shango odo), detail, No. 66.1.14, 15 3/4" x 13", Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. The potter (always a woman) applied moist plastic clay to create images of lighting, earthworms, turtles, and other messengers of ashe (vital force). The potter also modeled chiefly scepters - an ideoplastic alusion to the inherent nobility of those who are receptacles of divine power (ashe). Such vessels were commissioned and paid for by devotees of Shango. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Shango ritual vessel, terracotta, Museum of the Department of Archeology, African Studies Center, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Yoruba Water Vessel, 13" high, rim 6 1/2", No. 72.3.114, Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Terracotta Wedding Pot (ikoko igbeyawo) made in Ilafon-Ikiti, Nigeria about 1930. No 72.1.3, Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Height 11", rim diameter, 7 1/8". Used to wash the bride's feet as she enters the husband's house. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Yoruba Earthenware Vessel, 14 1/2" high, 6 3/8" rim diameter, said to have been made in Owo or Okoko, No. 73.3.130, Ita Yemoo Museum of Yoruba Pottery, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Alhaja Sifawu Jimoh, master professional potter, Dada Compound, Ilorin, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Potters of the World Film series
Isasun (lidded soup bowls) are transported to the train station for distribution throughout the country. Ilorin, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Isasun (lidded soup bowls) are transported to the train station for distribution throughout the country. Ilorin, Nigeria. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
The largest community in Nigeria is called Ebu Dada, located on the outskirts of Ilorin, Kwara State. The community consists only of Yourba women who are hereditary full time professional potters. Here a greenware water vessel is in process of final construction. When fired it will weigh some 125 lbs. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Adeja, (to the right of the photo) is a 15 year old professional potter. Dada Compound, Ilorin, Nigeria
Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Dada Compound, Ilorin, Nigeria, Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Final stages in the "open field firing" of terracotta storage vessels. The women in both Arigidi and Erusu (In the Akoko area) employ only "upside down contruction". Their pottery skills are unique to this region of Yorubaland.
Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Young herditary potter, Dada Compound Ilorin, Nigeria, 1988, Photo by Ron du Bois.
Yoruba hereditary potter and children, Dada Compound, 1988. Photo by Ron du Bois.
Dada Compound, Ilorin, Nigeria, 1988. Photo by Ron du Bois.
Dada Compound, Ilorin, Nigeria, 1988. Photo by Ron du Bois.
One of the most amazing feats of Yoruba pottery contruction is seen in Arigidi, Nigeria. Here all potters use upside down construction. This Yoruba woman is making the final closure of a 30 inch cooking vessel, a remarkable potting acheivement, unique to this region. Photo by Ron du Bois, 1988.
Three stages are seen in the construction of a 30 inch cooking vessel, Arigidi, Nigeria, 1988.
Photo by Ron du Bois.
