Zulu Beer Pots

 

ukamba - uphisi - uphiso

 

 

    

                                                                                Zulu Beer Pots ukamba with imbenge lids.

         Early 20th Century Photograph              WIRED: CONTEMPORARY ZULU TELEPHONE WIRE BASKETS

 

            

 

Zulu pots are made from clay using the coil method. Pots with necks were called uphisi or uphiso. A neck was added to avoid spillage when carried from place to place, usually to weddings.

 

Beer was traditionally brewed  by women and served by them.

 

 

Beer pots without necks were called ukamba. These were literally beer 'cups', which required both hands.

 

 

Zulu Wedding - Ivy's Albums

 

 

Zulu Wedding - Ivy's Albums

 

When larger pots were transported, a branch of leaves might be stuck into the top to prevent spilling.
 

 

Virtually every home contained a number of beer pots of all sizes, as the consumption of fermented beer was part of a persons diet. Beer was made from crushed sorghum, millet or mealies (corn).

 

 

 

Beer left to ferment overflows..

 

 

Click an image to enlarge.

 

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In addition to transporting beer over long distances, beer pots were used to fetch water.

 

 

 

Tambuka - Tanzania / Malawi

 

The Tambuka live on the border of  Malawi  and Tanzania. As such, the form, feel and use of their clay pottery is very much related to that of the Makonde to the east, as well as the Nyakusa to the west.

 

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The high sheen found on the black sections of these pots is a superficial addition added prior to firing. Lead graphite is rubbed onto the surface to create banding or stripes.

 

To the northwest are Lungu and Bemba potters living south of Lake Tanganyika. As pots cool after firing, they are burnished repeatedly with a sticky bark liquid to obtain a similar superficial lead graphite effect.

 

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Shona - Karanga Pots / Zimbabwe

 

 

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Some Shona / Karanga related groups use highly glossed pots resembling those of their Ndau neighbors. Our example came from an early colonial collection. Few pots have been collected. 

 

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Sotho Pottery

 

Maritsŏana (Marie-tswana) Beer-Grain-Water Pots

 

Circa 1910 - 1960

 

 

 

     

 

Galerie Ezakwantu has collected pots from the Ba Sotho in Lesotho over many years. For the most part, pots found in any one village were invariably made in a certain style. When a variant was found, it represented an object that had travelled into the area from potters working outside the immediate region. Young women learned the art of pottery from older women of their village. Pots collected at the highest elevations of Lesotho often resembled one another. This was due to a lack of clay in their area and the need to purchase pots from makers living lower down the valleys near the clays source.

 

Large pots like the example carried by the woman (above right), were used to brew beer. The Basotho referred to the object as an  Eqho or Nkho.

 

   

 

Nowadays plastic containers have replaced the brewing function. When found, they generally had become all purpose containers such as laundry bags and in one case, the support for a small cabinet. (above)

 

 

We have even found them buried into the ground.

 

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This is our largest Nkho pot measuring just over 55 cms or 22 inches tall. The decoration around its upper rim was added to increase strength, needed when the great force of liquid was placed inside.

 

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These smaller Eqho's are quite scarce and very much area specific.

 

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This unusual shaped Nkho has sculptural characteristics of  the Maritsŏana pots which follow.

 

Black marks or 'fire marks' on this and other Sotho pots are caused when a pot leans against another during firing, or when touching the ground while cooling. This is because oxygen is prevented from returning to the clay during the cooling process, much in the same way as the polished surface of black Zulu pottery captures carbon while cooling.
 

The Sotho called these beer pots Maritsŏana (Marie-tswana). They were not only used to drink beer from, but also to fetch water or store grain.  Enjoy the stunning examples on offer.

 

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The age of these pots may be determined from coloration. A pinkish terracotta tone is the natural color of  the pre-fired clay. Over the years oils, soot and grime builds up a darkened surface. We are comfortable saying some of our oldest examples may exceed 100 years in age, as some lighter examples date back 50 years.

 

 

People are too happy to sell their old pots for good money, in that they are now out of fashion.

 

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Though priced separately, these three examples display well as a trio.

 

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Both young and old bring clay pots to offer, but we bought only the best.

 

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Striking repairs are made with so called beeswax, obtained from the nests of hornets.

 

 

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This large Basotho pot is the most heavily restored African clay vessel we ever encountered. It has 14 rope stitches tied into 28 holes, each authentically tribally inserted. Paint used to further seal this item was removed.

 

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The above and lower pots are our largest Maritsŏana examples. Like some Nkho pots, the vessel to the above right incorporates a rim into its construction, affording added strength. The examples below are truly ancient.

 

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We hope you have enjoyed our Sotho selections. Viva to the Sotho Potters!

 

 

 

Follow this link to learn more about the Sotho.   

 

 

Follow this link to view African potters.  

 

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