MAMT||Museo Mediterraneo dell' Arte, della Musica e delle Tradizioni (EN)
|
27 October 2019
Iniziative (EN) -
MAMT – Mediterranean Museum of Art, Music and Traditions
During a visit to Sejnane, President Capasso, accompanied by locals, visited the main houses where over 700 women work ceramics using centuries-old techniques.
The art of these women has been established since 2018 on the list representing the cultural heritage of UNESCO.
The know-how of Sejnane's female ceramics is linked to the practice of using a particular technique to produce terracotta artefacts for the home, including kitchen utensils, dolls and animal figurines inspired by the environment. All stages of production are performed by women, who also sell ceramics in the village and on the edges of nearby roads; women therefore occupy an important place in the community. The clay is generally extracted in the wadi beds, then it is cut into tufts, crushed, purified and wet before being kneaded and shaped. Once baked, the ceramic is decorated with two-tone geometric motifs reminiscent of traditional tattoos and Berber textures.
Men participate in the sale, making this family trade a tool to promote family cohesion.
Faced with socio-economic developments, the women of Sejnane have adapted their craftsmanship to the new demands of modern life and market demands, revealing their capacity for innovation. The knowledge and know-how related to this manual art of ceramics in Sejnane are transmitted through traditional and informal education in communities where girls are encouraged to learn this art of fire in addition to traditional school education. The national craft office also offers training courses for young women in the community who wish to engage in this activity.
The Museum of Peace - MAMT will host in 2020 a permanent space with emotional videos that will reproduce the main phases of the process and the history of this ancient craft.
