Crafting industry in Nigeria: an initial exploration

In this blog Lauren England (PhD Candidate, King's College London)  focuses on the themes that emerged from the literature on two forms of craft production in Nigeria – ceramics and textiles – and their role in both micro-enterprise development and in industrial manufacturing.
 
Craft is an interesting discipline as it spans both artistic and industrial production and can combine creativity, design, science and technology. There is a long history of utilitarian craft production in Nigeria following a traditional small to medium enterprise production model.
Key themes that have emerged from the literature on craft production in Nigeria are:

• Availability of cultural and natural resources for small-scale and industrial craft production - kaolin and glaze minerals for ceramicsand cotton and dye materials for textiles
• Decline of ceramics and textile industries associated with emphasis on oil
• The capacity of small-scale craft enterprise to generate employment and the potential for economic self-reliance through craft production (for women in particular) - government initiatives to alleviate poverty through small scale craft enterprise
• Gender dynamics in craft work - typically female labour associated with utilitarian house-craft, but more men engaging in more contemporary markets for decorative works or using new technologies and materials.
• Education systems – family, apprenticeships, historical government-funded training centres and higher education offering formal training
• The role of arts and crafts tourism in the sustainable development of local markets and small-scale production
• The appropriation of African designs and crafts by non-African companies in international markets (and their export back to Africa)
• Working towards industrialisation and modernizing craft production processes and the potential for national economic growth through industrial manufacturing of ceramics and textiles and competition in global markets
• Domestic challenges to modern industrialisation – expertise, infrastructure, technology, finance and policy
• Global challenges – competition with other countries with strong import markets to Nigeria (i.e. China and textiles) and smugglingwhich hinders local industry development.
  

​These themes will be explored in greater depth through a literature review. 

Image: Tommy Miles