Ethnographic Study of Traditional Pottery-Making, Artisan Women

Pottery-making in traditional manner is widely practiced in Wallaga. In the region, pottery is formed mainly by artisan women, who belong to a social class known as ogeyyii, meaning the skilled ones. The artisan women play a crucial role in the sustainable development through diversification of livelihood options. The techniques of pottery-making are guided by the spiritual and cultural interests of the society. However, the artisan women who had better socio-economic status in the society are currently under destitute socio-economic situation. Their economic status is adversely affected by factors that are challenging progress of the indigenous technology by disrupting artisans' rural market. Oromia region is one of the centers of plant diversity in Ethiopia. In the Wallaga region of Oromia, there are several tuber crops believed to be indigenous. One of the tubers is anchote (Coccinia abyssinica), which forms part of the dietary staple mainly among the Oromo in Wallaga, Illubabor and Jimma of the Oromia Regional State.