Intersections

The Versatile Gourd

The fruit of the gourd, one of Africa’s earliest cultivated plants, has long been employed for purposes ranging from the obvious to the ingenious. The hollowed-out shells of gourds are used for storage or for serving food and drink. Gourds may also be used to make musical instruments, smoking pipes, fishing floats, or ritual regalia. The bowls shown here are from northeastern Nigeria where distinctive designs can be identified with particular ethnic groups and even particular artists. Women decorate most gourds, and this is a primary means for them to express their creativity and technical mastery. When food is served in these beautifully ornamented bowls, it is said that the meal becomes “better to eat.”