THE FIRE CHOOSES | a conversation with ceramic artist Aniah

In Sirigu, a small village in Ghana's Upper East Region, ceramic traditions have been passed down through families for generations. The women of SWOPA, the Sirigu Women's Organization for Pottery and Art, are among those keeping that knowledge alive. We asked master ceramicist Aniah about her work and the pieces she makes for us.

Where does the clay come from, and how do you prepare it before you start?

In Sirigu, we dig our clay from specific sites in the savannah near the village. The best clay is found about one to two feet below the topsoil, in low-lying areas where water collects in the rainy season. Only certain families know the exact sites. There are traditional rules. You don't dig on sacred days, and you leave an offering to the earth spirits before you begin.
Preparing the clay takes three to six days depending on the weather: digging and drying, pounding and sieving, soaking and mixing, then ageing and final kneading. All of that before a potter even starts building.

Who taught you to build with coils? Do you remember learning?

I was taught by my grandmother, my mother, and my aunties. As a child you are always nearby, so you get the leftover clay to play with while your mother builds a TZ bowl or water pot. Every Sirigu potter remembers learning, because it is tied to family and daily life. The clay, the coils, the firing. It is all part of growing up here.

How long does it take you to build one piece?

It is not a quick one-day craft. One piece can stretch across one to two weeks, because so much of the time is waiting. Building takes one to three days. Firing takes one day. Decorating takes one to two days after firing.

Sometimes you make subtle markings in the clay. What do they signify?

In Sirigu, nothing on a pot is just decoration. Wavy lines stand for the python, and the python means protection. A fish means a happy home. Rows of dots mean the ancestors, or stars. Each mark carries meaning.

When you open the kiln after firing, are you ever surprised by what you find?

Yes, almost every firing. There is no exception. It is part of the process. The fire chooses the colors, the browns and the blacks. Then there is the sound test. When it rings like a bell, it is well fired and everyone celebrates. When it thuds, there is a hidden crack inside. And sometimes a little gift comes out that sounds better than any of the ones you have made before.