Sir: At the crossroads of West Central Nigeria is the Nupe metropolis of Bida in Niger State, the place Masagá glassmakers preserve the tradition and custom to fabricate uncooked black glass, a technique that has remained a secret for almost two centuries. This patriarchal organisation consists of guild members who distinguish themselves by the declare that they initially migrated from Egypt to Nupeland within the mid-nineteenth century.
The Masagá glassmakers of Bida are famend for his or her manufacturing of glass beads and bangles constituted of fashionable glass and from regionally manufactured uncooked glass often known as bikini. Bikini is a black shiny molten glass produced and utilized by Masagá crafts folks earlier than civilisation and the importation of fashionable glass bottles into the realm. Bikini served, as the principle uncooked materials for glass work between the mid-19th and 20th Centuries. But, because of expense and problem in sourcing the uncooked supplies, the manufacturing and utilization of bikini glass was phased out and changed by simply sourced recycled glass.
At the second, the Masagá glass manufacturing is close to extinction as the one recognized survivor of the key system and know-how of the Bikini glassmaking is a ninety-12 months-previous man. Without mincing phrases, the data to retain the produce of bikini glass is in jeopardy of turning into extinct, because the risk of a lost legacy looms. However, there appears to be a ray of hope to revive and maintain the tradition and custom of Bikini glass manufacturing, because the Masagá glassmakers agreed in November 2019 to recreate bikini glass.
It is the hope of each Nupe little children that the Masaga esteemed tradition of Bikini glass making doesn’t die. Permit me to make use of this medium to salute His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu of Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional rulers for his fervent help of Nupe tradition and heritage.
By Lesley Lababidi Jakadiyan Gargajian
