The Japan Times
@thejapantimes@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is set to designate four Japanese cities as “hometowns” for the African nations of Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique as Japan looks to strengthen exchanges. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/18/japan/society/jica-hometown-cities/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #africa #ticad #africajapanrelations #jica #tanzania #nigeria #ghana #mozambique
Pottery by Osa
@potterybyosa@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago

I made my first #facejug in 2019. I made a few at the time, left it for a while and now I’m returning to the idea. I have no training in sculpture so I feel like a beginner all over again when I make these. One thing that gives me courage to attempt them is that original face jugs from the US South are raw, folky and imperfect. But I’m also drawing inspiration from the Ife terracotta heads from #Nigeria which are incredibly skillful and naturalistic. Mine fall somewhere in between. #pottery

A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.
A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.
A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.
Pottery by Osa
@potterybyosa@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago

I made my first #facejug in 2019. I made a few at the time, left it for a while and now I’m returning to the idea. I have no training in sculpture so I feel like a beginner all over again when I make these. One thing that gives me courage to attempt them is that original face jugs from the US South are raw, folky and imperfect. But I’m also drawing inspiration from the Ife terracotta heads from #Nigeria which are incredibly skillful and naturalistic. Mine fall somewhere in between. #pottery

A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.
A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.
A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.
The Japan Times
@thejapantimes@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp last month

More than 600 malnourished children have died in northern Nigeria in six months after failing to receive proper care as foreign aid dries up, a medical charity has said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/28/world/society/malnourished-children-nigeria-msf/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #society #africa #nigeria #famine #hunger
Shotgun Seamstress
@shotgunseamstress@kolektiva.social  ·  activity timestamp last month

My mind is blown. My mom is Igbo yet I never heard the supposedly common phrase “Igbo enwe eze” (from pg 35 of African Anarchism) which translates to “Igbos recognize no kings,” and speaks to a tradition of communal solidarity and non-hierarchical leadership. Now I’m finding a number of academic papers by Nigerians on the topic of Igbo communalism. #Nigeria#Africa#Anarchism#communalism #solidarity#NoKings
The Japan Times
@thejapantimes@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp last month

Resurgent jihadist attacks, huge cuts in foreign aid and a spiralling cost of living: hunger is looming in northeastern Nigeria, where more than a million people face starvation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/24/world/hungry-nigeria-aid-jihadists/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #nigeria #poverty #hunger #africa #usaid
Nithin Coca నితిన్
@ncoca@social.coop  ·  activity timestamp last month

Latest from @pewresearch
▶️ On this, the world should be more like #sweden
▶️ What's up with #Nigeria? Are they living in some alternate reality?
▶️ #Hungary the most pro-US country in Europe is a surprise.
▶️ Can someone explain why #Greece has the biggest Pro #China/#US gap?