Tradition
Zulu Pottery
South Africa · Traditional – present
Beer pots and beauty. Form follows ritual.
In Zulu tradition, the shape of a pot reflects its purpose—and pottery-making belongs to women.
Zulu pottery is inseparable from Zulu life. Ukhamba (beer pots) for brewing traditional sorghum beer. Izinkamba for storing water. Each form optimized for its function. The pots are made by women, using techniques passed from mothers to daughters. No wheel—just coiling and smoothing by hand. The surfaces are burnished with smooth stones, then often blackened with smoke or graphite. Contemporary artists like Nesta Nala have brought Zulu pottery to international attention.
How does function shape form in your work?
Techniques
- Coiling
- Burnishing
- Smoke firing
- Incised decoration