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There was huge activity at the pottery in preparation for the Governor
General and his entourage to visit the Pottery. Michael had all the boys
whitewashing the walls, cutting the grass, sweeping the paths and during
the visit, everyone was working hard so that the Governor General would
see a hive of activity. Michael spent two hours in the showroom with him,
and actually took pots from his secret store, which was usually jealously
guarded by him.
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42. Here is Michael dressed for the occasion in the showroom
with the Emir and Lady Robertson. Michael was very pleased, as sales
were good.
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43. The next celebration was the end of Ramadan. Here is a big progression,
police in front, Emir under the umbrella on horseback.
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44. The Emir on horseback. He distributed krola nuts to signify
that the fast was over.
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45. Spectators. Diane in blue next to Michael.
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There was a big fair at Kwali, an agricultural show, at Ladi's village
and both Cardew and I were invited to be judges at a pottery show.
These poor women had bought these huge pots in to be judged and a prize
given. Needless to say Michael did all the judging, and I don't think
the women knew what it was all about, but one received a monetary prize.
Wonderful pots.
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46. Michael judging the pots.
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47. There were musicians and dancers at the fair. They also performed
later at the Emir's compound. Michael was very excited about this.
He came rushing up to us and said, 'Have you given them some money?
Have you given them some money? These people are artists, they need
to live!'. We hadn't had any money left actually ' we'd given all
we had on us. Wonderful performance!
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Now we come to the celebration of independence for the Northern Region,
held at Kaduna in March 1959. The celebration in the form of a Durbar,
where the tribes paid homage to their leader who at the time was Sir Ahmaou
Bello K.B.E. Saudona of Sokotu and premier of the Northern Region. Britain
was represented by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. A site of 250 acres,
3,000 horsemen went to it, 10,000 men, they trekked for months across
the deserts and the areas of the northern region. Michael was determined
to display the Pottery at this celebration.
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48. Here are Michael and the boys making a small kiln to fire
pots for the celebration.
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49. We all made these little water bottles, suitably stamped with
'Mulkin Kai 1959' (Independence 1959) that are standing on the firebox
of the kiln. Here Michael is lifting a bottle from the kiln. Some
boys were taken up to the area to build a kiln and fire the pots
on site. Michael sold the lot and was very happy because the money
came to the pottery. He and Seth enjoyed this big Durbar but I was
bitten by a mosquito, so we could not go as I spent four days in
hospital, so that was fun wasn't it? Very disappointing!
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50. At the end of the year, Michael would give a feast to the
boys and the crew. It was a most hilarious occasion because there
was heaps of food. They killed two sheep and had Fulani yoghurt,
fruit and these huge bowls of rice. It's just about the end of the
feast here. Mariel and Seth were there. All the families came around
and food was passed out the windows and hidden under the table,
as if Michael didn't know. But of course he knew and he thought
it was a huge joke.
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51. Mariel was a lovely, charming person. She and Seth came to Abuja
in November 1958. It was Mariel and Michael's' twenty-fifth wedding
anniversary on 24 December. We received this had written invitation
from Michael:
Mariel and Michael Cardew invite you on Wednesday 24th December
at 7.15p.m. to watch the moon rising and to celebrate the 25th anniversary
of their marriage. Drinks, small chop, siri, yam cakes, mince pies,
I hope, etc. etc. etc.
Later, unfortunately, Mariel was ill. She told Diane that whenever
she came to Nigeria she felt about 20% of her normal self. So she
went home to the UK early.
Here she is, about to leave Abuja.
The man on the right is Mr Alpha; he was a clerk in the office,
with his beautiful lace gown. He was Christian, and I was talking
to Okoro Aiki the foreman, who was also a Christian, about Mr Alpha
one day and Okoro said 'He's got two or three wives of course'.
I said 'How is it that a Christian has got more than one wife?'
Okoro said, looking at me intently, 'What do you do with your surplus
women?' I didn't answer that!
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52. Some of Michael's pots fired during our stay at Abuja.
A 'chun' carnation vase. This optical blue glaze depended on placement
in the kiln. Sometimes it was a soft pale grey green. One of the
boys had made some slab flower troughs for a Mrs Henderson, which
came out a brilliant chun. So whenever a chun pot appeared, 'Ah,
Mrs Henderson', Michael would say!
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53. A very typical three handled vase.
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54. A group of screw teapots. I would have given anything for
one of these teapots, I did get one later on; a friend bought me
one from a Cardew exhibition in London in 1962.
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55. Two large coffee pots.
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