Migration and Displacement in the Development of Forms in African Art History: Preliminary Report on the Pottery Traditions of Ishiagu

Abstract

Pottery communities are known with their forms and styles, an integral practice that interprets the individualistic cultural identity. Migration and displacement outcome has contributed immensely in the spread of diverse pottery culture. Isheagu of Delta state and Ishiagu of Ebonyi state are victims of displacement incidence from Awka many years back due to communal clash. As a result of this, both communities migrated independently at different time, one to the West and the other to the East in search for safety. This study, thus investigates the gradual development of forms in both pottery traditions after migration. Most cultural elements in these pottery cultures under investigation must have gone extinct but pottery making remain an intrinsic value that connects the displaced communities and their origin being able to retain the pottery vocation in a new dimension, from the existing knowledge considering the artistic forms produced in Awka their earliest place of habitation. In this regard, pottery works from Awka serve as a measure to the two Ishiagu communities to compare the diverse exiting forms within the three pottery cultures. It is a qualitative approach, that employs the in- depth interview, focused group discussion and fundamental informants. A good number of works from the three communities were investigated to allow a superficial unveiling of the iconographic content of the pottery forms. The study reveals migration occurrences as a porous channel that engenders the replication of human practices in diverse series. It concludes that prime objects are prototype in the generation of innovative forms in every human engagement.