How the earthenware bowl got its black colour

And then there is all the grinding that goes on in the earthenware bowl popularly called Ayewa or asanka – grinding of various spices for food preparation.

There’s a lot of work that goes into the making of these unique bowls by the people of Kwahu.

Whilst there are red earthenware bowls usually made by the people of Sunyani, the potters in Kwahu usually make the black ones.

How do they get the black colour?

We found this out when some potters took us through the making of Asanka in the last episode of People & Places.

Madam Janet told the team that after moulding, the earthenware bowls are baked under hot coals after which they are put under sawdust.

Fire is set to the sawdust and burnt till it becomes black and then the baked bowls are arranged carefully under the sawdust and left to change colour.

Watch the video as some Kwahu Potters tell us more about the making of local pots and Asanka among other pottery artifacts: