KHARTOUM, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Amid repeated power outages across large parts of Sudan, pottery has re-emerged not just as a cultural relic, but as a vital part of everyday survival.
For centuries, pottery vessels like the zir, an earthenware water jar, and the smaller qula have been used to keep water cool in the hot climate. The porous clay allows some water to evaporate, naturally lowering the temperature of the remaining water.
"The zir has become the best alternative to a refrigerator for keeping water cool," Somia Ahmed, a housewife in Gezira state, central Sudan, told Xinhua.
"We learned this from our mothers and grandmothers, but the new generation would have forgotten these tools if not for the crisis," she said.
She noted pottery vessels also store vegetables like tomatoes and onions, keeping them fresh longer by preventing spoilage.
Thana Khalid from Omdurman in Khartoum state said the electricity crisis and scorching heat have revived the need for traditional pottery tools, especially among younger generations.
"My children were surprised at first, but now they mainly rely on the zir when there's no electricity," she told Xinhua.
Pottery is one of Sudan's oldest crafts, tracing back to Nubian civilizations that used clay vessels to store water and food. Today, traditional pottery hubs such as Al-Gamayer neighborhood of Omdurman, Old Dongola in Northern state, and Shendi in River Nile State continue this legacy, producing durable, artistic handmade pieces fired in traditional kilns.
With pottery's return, related crafts have revived -- kilns have reopened as artisans have found new markets.
At a modest pottery workshop in Al-Gamayer, 62-year-old Adam Ali Adam oversees a fresh batch of qulal-clay vessels used for cooling and storing water.
"Rising temperatures and frequent power outages have revived our business," Adam told Xinhua. "Before the war, we had five workers. Now we have 15 and still can't meet demand. Orders have increased tenfold, and even young people are asking for clay pots."
In one corner of the workshop, 41-year-old Mutasim Yousif expertly worked a lump of clay. "I learned this craft from my uncle when I was fifteen," he said, his hands steady as he shapes the vessel. "Right now, I'm doing the initial forming for a zir -- the most iconic pottery piece used for cooling water," he told Xinhua.
At the bustling Omdurman popular market, 45-year-old Fatima Hassan carefully chose a zir for her family. "Before the war, I used to feel embarrassed having a zir at home as I saw it as outdated," she said. "But now, with constant power outages and the pressing need for cool water, there's no better alternative. Every household has one."
Before the war, a zir cost around 10,000 Sudanese pounds. Today, the price has soared to nearly 150,000, but demand still keeps climbing.
Ahmad Ezz Eldin, a pottery tools trader in Omdurman, attributes the surge to hardships. "Wages for skilled workers have gone up, firewood is more expensive, and sourcing high-quality clay has become a major challenge," he explained.
Badr Eldin Saad, a Sudanese pottery artisan, highlighted the country's ancient pottery tradition. "Pottery in Sudan dates back thousands of years and was integral to daily life, rituals, and trade."
He told Xinhua, "The craft evolved over time. Early Sudanese used Nile clay to make vessels by hand, firing them in open pits. Later, these were decorated with plant and animal designs."
"Pottery is more than containers -- it's a people's memory," Saad says. "Sudanese pottery holds stories of heritage, resilience, and creativity." Enditem
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