The ladies of Logshegu make our wonderful terracotta pots. The sales of pots have allowed these
ladies to become self sufficient. The Chief told us he is very happy about that as the ladies no
longer ask him for money. Previously they would only be sold at the local market but since And Albert got
involved they are now sold in the U.K.
They range from a small Chicken Pot – used to feed and water Chickens, see the ones being held
by the two ladies on the right in the picture above – to large water pots approx 60cm tall and 50cm wide.
We usually have a selection in stock. Prices from £6.50 for a chicken pot up to £65 for a large water pot.
They are made completely by hand using age old techniques. See below.
It is a long process.
The Clay is dug from the dry river bed and left overnight in water to soften.
The now supple clay is rolled into "sausages"
An old broken pot base is used as a guide and the sausages are worked round and around.
To the desired shape and size.
A seed pod is used to smooth the surface inside and out and to make decorations.
The completed pots are stacked up ready for firing.
They are first covered with twigs.
Then hay
Then set alight
Then allowed to burn
The firing lasts a few hours
A few of the finished pots
Some of the pottery group with their beautiful pots
Logshegu village is primarily a farming community. Crops such as corn, yams, tobacco and more recently,
thanks to And Albert, fruit trees. The village has it's own primary school which the children are keen to
attend, although the facilities are very basic. The older children travel into Kumbungu to the local
secondary school, a few miles walk - or if they are "lucky" enough to have a bike, a few minutes cycle away.
It is a very poor village but a wonderful community. Approximately 1000 people live there, mostly
Muslims. We get the most amazing welcomes and it is always very hard to leave.
