Egyptian potters using Nile mud seek to protect their craft

Potters struggle to preserve their craft against pressures of pollution & modernisation

Published: December 19, 2020 11:22 Compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor and with inputs from Reuters

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For generations, potters in the village of El Nazla have taken mud carried by the River Nile to craft their wares by hand, using techniques they say date back to Ancient Egypt. Image Credit: REUTERS

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But they say they are now struggling to preserve their craft against the pressures of inflation, pollution and modernisation. Image Credit: REUTERS

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The potters manually mix clay, straw and ash in open-air workshops before firing pots in large traditional ovens fuelled with wood and tyres. The resulting urns and bowls are light brown in colour. Image Credit: REUTERS

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"This craft is as old as the village itself," said 38-year-old Hosni Ahmed (above), who has worked for 25 years as a potter in the village, located about 100 km southwest of Cairo on a canal fed by the Nile. Image Credit: REUTERS

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As well as seasonal dips in production due to less sunlight and more rain in the winter, villagers say they are also contending with increased raw material prices and a drop in silt quality. Image Credit: REUTERS

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"The Nile today does not bring us mud like before," said Hosni's brother, 31-year-old Alaa Ahmed (above). "Even when we get the mud, it is not clean, full of wastewater and garbage." Image Credit: REUTERS

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They also say authorities have offered to modernise their craft, suggesting they use less polluting gas ovens, and produce different varieties of pots to cater to pottery lovers and tourists who visit the village. Image Credit: REUTERS

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"If they want to modernise, they have to treat it like a natural protected area," said Hosni. "This is heritage." Image Credit: REUTERS

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Potter Alaa Ahmed shows river-clay with traditional shapes of pottery at El Nazla village in Fayoum, southwest of Cairo. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Potter Hosni Ahmed holds wet river-clay in his hands Image Credit: REUTERS

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Alaa Ahmed shows his hand with river-clay after making traditional shapes of pottery. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A potter looks on as he hammers wet river-clay into traditional shapes. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Potter Gaber Ahmed works with mud to make traditional shapes of pottery Image Credit: REUTERS

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A potter carries buckets with river-clay from a canal by River Nile. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A general view of pottery workshops after sunset at El Nazla village in Fayoum, southwest of Cairo. Image Credit: REUTERS

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