Declining Art Communities: The Handcraft Village

In the fault in our stars, Hazel Lancaster argues that “Oblivion is inevitable”, never more finely was this better described than in Booth Tarkington’s ‘The Magnificent Amberson’s’. “We trudge through life aiming to make a difference, bequeathing a legacy and more than anything else being an unprecedented tour de force.”

Over two decades ago, the Hilton team in Abuja spearheaded a project to promote arts and culture. This project led to them building  what some would argue is the oldest arts and crafts community in Abuja.

For anyone visiting a foreign country, there are a myriad of factors that can affect the visit ranging from safety concerns to not understanding the native tongue.

The hotel, famous for being a foreigner’s stop, was ingenious in establishing a market space with a few custodians of African ornaments. The idea aimed at  positioning African wood and metal work in an environment which could be easily and safely accessible.

In our journey of living, small things such as spices, learning new words, discovering little shops or simply carrying with us a little bit of our short-lived experiences can leave a sense of having truly lived. I’ve seen several foreigners choose local spices and for others, handmade crafts are priceless.

As such the hotel invested in keepsakes and souvenirs for their guests. This merger led to a touristy find, thus creating a local art market which sells figurines and jewelries where there was an expected demand for African Art.

The art village was allocated space just behind the swimming pool, where a collective of traders and cats are settled.

In a series of visits, I met some of the oldest faces whose main means of sustenance is tied to the string of huts.

One such old timer, whose name will not be mentioned, is occasionally found in the first hut.

In a brief account of his stay he says,

‘’This project began with a total of 18 huts, filled with handcrafted items made by artisans of Nupe, Igala, Kano, Borno and other origins within and outside West Africa.’’ The sourced paraphernalia are curated and sold by Northern traders who communicate primarily in their mother tongue, Hausa.

By Early 2024, only Five of these huts can keep the lights on. Thirteen of these huts have been converted to other businesses such as printing shops, marking the art community’s decline. The remaining five sister huts are filled with twin accoutrements ranging from beaded bracelets, faux gold bangles and some 19^th and 20^th century inspired woodwork such as wooden trunks.

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Numerically arranged, his hut is known as Hut 1, this store is not well established to have a registered name. Hut 1 rotates five sellers each week, a few of them have been in this trade for over two decades and have never been able to record a single independent art exhibition.

In that time, they watched neighbors disperse, witnessing the growth and spread of emerging art communities in Abuja.

For this old timer, his stay has been quite peaceful, he credits the lack of government grants, not having a proper education, capital and low stream of visitors intensified by COVID 19 (which brought down sales in recent years) as his major challenges.

Today he says some of his old friends can be found at Idu, Jabi, as well as the Abuja arts and culture village behind the Shehu Musa Yar’adua center.  

He intends to remain committed to sourcing and promoting African handiworks.

In a later visit, another settler Mr. Zubairu, who previously sold Turaren wuta (a woodsy home scent which burns on coal, a northern indulgence similar to the cozy rustic feel of a fireplace) shared his own experience.  

Zubairu switched careers sixteen (16) years ago to sell accoutrements, because in the early 2000s this venture had been more lucrative, it had less competition and offered newness.  

With the shrivel in buyers, he has had to redefine success which now translates to his love for the simplicity of his life, a good day at the shop and then being able to go back home to his family.

He intends for this career choice to end with him, he strives to ensure his children receive good education for a better financial outcome.

A significant number of the earlier Hausa curators who helped in establishing this village, chose new locations in a bid to remain more relevant and are often a rotating cast in art festivals, food fairs and more within and outside Abuja.

Whilst the art scene in Abuja can be said to be thriving, it leaves very little room for the growth of small-scale art sellers leaving us with one main question, is force majeure behind their decline?