Ceramic traditions and Cultural Unity Among the Kongo of Central Africa:
An Ethnoarchaeological Approach
PhD Thesis by Léopold MPIKA
Analysing the ceramic production of contemporary pottery from Kongo, one may test the hypothesis according to which Kongo populations of Congo are indeed the forebears of single and ancient political formation.
The observation of pottery manufacturing processes among Bantu H10 group populations (Manyanga, Sundi, Dondo, Kamba et Bembé) allowed for the identification of a number of similarities and divergences. The artisans do not belong to any specific social sub-class, but pottery is made by women working alone or in groups. Raw materials such as black, red or white clay or psammite are located on riverbanks or hillsides. These raw materials are extracted with the help of tools normally used in other activities such as the daba. The clay is prepared by addition of psammite and kneaded on a kern stone with an upper grinding stone. The bottom and belly of vessels are fashioned by hollowing of a clay cone, with a rounded base. The upper part is shaped by coil addition. Decorations are generally made in two steps: after shaping and after firing. Firstly, pots are incised with a spatula, a set of fishbone or a dicrotachynutans. After several weeks of drying the vessels are fired and soaked while red-hot in a bridelia ferruginea decoction. As it is usually the case, the craft is surrounded by a series of taboos as regards the contact of salt, sexual intercourse or menstruations.
This research allowed for the characterisation of two great ceramic traditions among the Kongo of the Lower Congo. The first, including the Manyanga and Sundi, is characterised by the use of coiling, the firing of pots in a depression and the fact that vessels are decorated by soaking them in a decoction of bridelia ferruginea. The second, comprising the Dondo, Kamba and Bembe, is characterised by the fact that vessels are shaped by hollowing of a cone, fired in a bonfire and decorated with a paintbrush using a decoction of bridelia ferruginea.
Finally, this work shows that, despite ethnic divisions, the Kongo populations of Congo share a common heritage.
This PhD is organised in two volumes:
- Volume I Synthesis and analyses.
- Volume II Research data, with illustrated texts.
