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Local
Malawian and the Potter's Language
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By
Charles Mkoka
Blantyre
,
Malawi
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06/12/2003
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Ceramics placed along the road to Blantyre from Chileka International Airport
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Many
of the travelers to and from Malawi’s Chileka International Airport are
unaware that about 5km away is the Ngumbe Trading Center. This trading center
used to be a hub for the miners that trekked to South Africa in the 1970 and
80’s to look for ‘greener pastures’ in the gold mines. They had to spend a
week at this trading center, where the South African Teba Company provided
accommodation, and you can guess the kind of enthusiasm these miners had to go
back home again.
A
stones throw from the trading center, along the road that leads you to Blantyre,
the commercial capital of Malawi, stands a shabby old house. This house stands
on one of the busiest roads, often used by executives, business people,
politicians and head of states that use Malawi Airport. “Bakali Ceramics”
are the only words written on the building, along with a picture of one of the
products that this pottery expert produces. It needs keen interest to discover
what happens inside this house, a house that is unlike any other.
What
surprises people most is the kiln, just like those used by the Stone Age people
to smelt iron in those far off days. However, these are modern times, and this
furnace is used to heat the pottery, after it is dry but before it is decorated
with different colors of the client’s choice.
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Some
produced ceramics and the kiln used in the stone age period
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Sammie
John Bakali a professionally trained potter of ceramics runs the shop with two
assistants, Patrick Bakali his son and Rhodrick Chimwaza an employee.
All
his knowledge was acquired from Christopher Steven, a Greek volunteer who worked
for St. Martins Anglican Church in 1983. Steven also trained 17 other Malawians
in the production of pottery at Malindi, a town on the eastern arm of Lake
Malawi in the lakeshore district of Mangochi.
The
original plan was to train church members voluntarily, and the sale of ceramics
used to run the operations of the church. However, members showed little
interest in learning this lucrative venture. At the age of 22, Bakali was one of
those that registered their keen interest to acquire technical knowledge in the
production of ceramics from Steven. The initial production generated enough
income for the church.
Under
the supervision of Steven, who gave them the technical expertise, the team
created a name in ceramics production that spread like bushfire. Steven, who
returned home to Greece after completion of his voluntary work in 1983, left a
crop of Malawians that were the best in ceramic production. However, the Malindi
pottery scheme was rocked with financial woes, and Bakali later left to
concentrate on his private undertakings. Since 1989, Bakali has been operating
independently, and now occupies the building along the road to Blantyre, so that
clients traveling to and from the Airport can view his works; regarded as some
of the best countrywide.
In
an exclusive interview at his shop, Bakali stated that few people, throughout
the country, are accustomed to ceramics. “It took time for the people to
accept them as quality products.” said Bakali. “Right now, from the year
2000, many people come to ask for ceramics; even from as far away as Lilongwe,
the capital city of Malawi.” he added, “This is a sign that they appreciate
the quality of my products.”
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Another
Bakali's work in blue colour |
Not
only local residents have noticed Bakali efforts. He recently won a contract to
produce ceramics for the country’s first citizen. His works were noticed by
the President one day as he was on his way to Blantyre from the Airport. “I am
glad that my efforts have started to be recognized countrywide.” Bakali
recounts.
“I
was invited to State House and given K30, 000.00 as a token of appreciation for
my work from the first citizen in the land, President Bakili Muluzi. This
encouraged me to work harder,” said Bakali who is well outfitted for ceramic
production, and treats his material to several processes before starting to
mould items that have been requested by his clients.
“There
is plenty of science involved in the production of ceramics, and the tools that
we use can be simple in nature or complicated.” he narrates.
The
ideal soil for ceramic production is Dambo clay, and after it has been collected
from half a meter underground, it is treated to various processes. To ensure
that it is ideal for the production of ceramics, the soil is steeped in a
potter’s trough and then sieved in a potter’s mesh to remove sand and
debris.
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More
artist works from Bakali |
While
in the workshop, the clay is taken through various processes and stages.
Depending on the weather, it is taken to a drying zone where it can stay for
close to three days. It is later taken to a storage zone were the clay can stay
for over a month without drying out or loosing its material strength.
Bakali
uses locally available material, like the guitar string that he uses as a
cutting wire to slice the clay into the portions he wants. He also does what in
pottery is called ‘kneading’, in order to remove unwanted particles. The
clay is also ‘wedged’ to remove air bubbles, which, if they are not
detected, lead to the ceramic cracking. The clay is then taken to a potter’s
wheel to be worked on, depending on the product that he intends to create.
“All
this is potter’s language,” he concludes.
Charles
Mkoka is an independent Malawian environmental writer with much
experience in environmental issues. He has worked in the field of
environment and natural resources since 1996, after graduating from the
Malawi
Natural
Resources
College
. Apart from being a writer, he is also a wildlife educator, specialist and
guide. You can reach him at: mkokach@yahoo.com.
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