Pottery in Sirigu Society: The Socio-Cultural Relevance and the Need for Sustenance

The study examines the Socio-cultural roles of pottery in Sirigu, an artistic community in the Upper East Region of Ghana.  The research made use of qualitative methods of focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and observations to collate the views of potters, some executives of Sirgu Women Organization of Pottery and Art, family heads, as well as some traditional medicine men in the Sirigu Community. The findings of the study revealed that pottery production in Sirigu is predominantly a female oriented vocation. The research further showed that pottery usage in the community was not only limited to the domestic setting, where they were used in fetching and storing water, as well as the preparation of various meals and beverages. They were also extensively employed in many socio-cultural activities deemed very crucial for promoting well being and camaraderie, as well as venerating ancestors and other spirit beings. Pottery usage in Sirigu indeed reflects the cosmological leanings of the people of the community. It was also discovered that pottery making in Sirigu is gradually declining due to the disinterest of the youth in pottery production as well as the strong liking for metal, plastic and fiberglass vessels by most households in the community.