In Kasuwar Gamboru, pot makers perform ‘magic’ on aluminium

The business, according to the pot makers, was imported into Maiduguri by some Malian immigrants who came to Maiduguri in the early 80’s. These Malians were the ones who trained locals in the art of making iron pots. A visitor to the market will be agape how these artisans, with their artistry turn old aluminium […]

The business, according to the pot makers, was imported into Maiduguri by some Malian immigrants who came to Maiduguri in the early 80’s. These Malians were the ones who trained locals in the art of making iron pots. A visitor to the market will be agape how these artisans, with their artistry turn old aluminium into new pots of different shapes and sizes.

Jubril Umar, one of the pot makers, told Kanem Trust that he has been in the business for the past 15 years. He said he learnt the art from a Malian who was among the early pot makers at the market.

“I learnt the art of making the pot from a Malian for three years before being on my own and I have my workshop. In a day, I make 48 pieces of pots, and I also make up to N2000 in a day,” he said.

According to him, the materials used to make the pots include old aluminium and soil. He explained that to make the pot, the aluminium is first melted on fire before mixing with soil and then made into different shapes and sizes and put on fire again.

The pot makers have a ready – made market where the pots are transported to. According to Tanimu Ibrahim, another pot maker, who said he has been in the business for over 20 years, the pots are loaded in trailers and transported to places like Niger, Chad and Cameroon. “ We also transport them to other parts of the country like Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano and to local markets here in Borno,” he added.

“Most of our customers are foreigners from Niger, Chad and Cameroon. They come to buy the goods and transport them to their places and mostly, they come after the rainy season because during the rainy season, the roads are not good to transport the goods. The price of the pots depend on the size. There is one of N400 for the small size to the one of N3000 which is the biggest size,” he said.

When Kanem Trust visited the shops of the ‘Tukuya’ makers, young boys of school age were noticed assisting their masters. Some of them were blowing the fire with the assistance of a device used to control the fire while some were noticed mixing soil with water and others were joining the aluminium together with the mixed soil.

There are also those who, having graduated in the art of making the ‘Tukuyan’, did not have money to get a space of their own. These groups help in making the pots and are paid depending on the number of pots they make in a day.

Individuals also bring their old aluminium items to the ‘ Tukuya’ maker to turn into new iron pots according to their desire and within a twinkle of an eye, the pot is ready depending on the size. For some pots, it takes up to one hour and some even take less than ten minutes to make.

“Our peak period is during wedding ceremonies. Many people contact us to help them refine their aluminium products while some request new ones. We make much money during this periods,” one of them confided in Kanem Trust.

On how the pot makers get the materials for the pot making, Ibrahim said they mostly buy the aluminium materials from dealers who buy from those who go from house to house soliciting from residents who want to sell their old aluminium items for a paltry sum just like the ‘Ajaokuta’ traders. “We also buy old iron and refine it,” he said.

The trade is not an all comers affair according to the artisan. One needs to register with their union with some token before you will be allowed to operate at the market. “We also pay monthly revenue to the local government council,” one of them said.

The ‘Tukuya’ makers operate in a make shift shield which serves as their workshop and a fire used to burn the aluminium is made inside the workshop.

The ‘Tukuya’ business just like any other business, has its own challenges. The number one problem according to the artisans is during the rainy season where it will be difficult to use fire for refining the product. Another problem, according to Muhammed Yanami, is the problem of sourcing materials. He said, “some time, we encounter the problem of scarcity of aluminium and we also run at a loss, especially  if  you didn’t  buy a good soil for the making of the products.”