AKWA IBOM STATE UNIVERSITY JOUNAL OF ARTS

The research surveys the significant shift in pottery practices in Nigeria starting from the pre-colonial to the post-colonial era; with emphasis on the decolonization of cultural and artistic expressions among indigenous Nigerian potters. Colonial rule undeniably influenced Nigerian pottery, leading to the introduction of new techniques and materials. This paper argues that the essence of indigenous pottery was not entirely erased but rather it is in an evolving phase, and this phase is categorized by the influx of contemporary and emerging artists who see the concepts of indigenous art forms as their heritage. The researcher explores the various aspects of pottery making, from techniques and motifs to the functions of pottery and potters in the socioeconomic system, demonstrating how Nigerian pottery outlived colonialism by maintaining its cultural identity under colonial influence. These resurgent and resistant elements function also as decolonial sites that challenge the trajectory that colonialism erased the indigenous Nigerian cultural object. The study unequivocally employed narrative and case study research designs to thoroughly analyze scholars' opinions found in literature sources. The study highlights the resilience of local traditions and the pivotal role of pottery as a medium of cultural expression and preservation in the face of external forces. The assessment is expected to contribute to a broader discourse on decolonization and the dynamic nature of cultural practices in post-colonial societies through a comprehensive analysis backed with historical and contemporary pottery practices.

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