OFA BOWL
Description
OFA BOWL
Traditional Yoruba lidded bowls are made from fired clay.
Yoruba pottery is predominantly practiced by women folk in dedicated work areas known as Ebu. The art is passed down to their children especially the girl-child. While men rarely take part in pottery, they generally help in the tedious task of digging clay. The clay is collected, cut and soaked to obtain the required texture, then rolled into balls. Rolls of clay coils are superimposed to build the outer wall of the plate while the base is also cast on a pre-mould. The depth of the bowl solely depends on its intended size and use.
A delicate technique known as fisoorun is employed in drying the bowl. The lengthy exposure to sunlight and air gives the item enough durability to withstand scrapping and burning.
The traditional bowl or receptacle for serving food is made in Ofa, a town in present-day Kwara State, Nigeria.
A raffia ring is supplied with each bowl
