Explore Village Pottery Making in Fiji: Clay, Culture & Craft by Hand

Step into a Fijian village and you might hear the quiet rhythm of hands shaping clay. Pottery making in the Sigatoka region — especially in the village of Nakabuta — is an ancient tradition still practiced today by skilled artisans using nothing but earth, fire, and story, often discovered during a Fijian village visit.

Tradition, Craftsmanship, Cultural Continuity

Where to Go: Nakabuta, the "Village of Pottery"

Just outside Sigatoka lies Nakabuta Village — one of Fiji's last communities still practicing traditional hand-built pottery. Here, you're welcomed with a smile, a bula, and often a short kava ceremony before artisans demonstrate how they shape clay bowls, water jugs, and cooking pots using age-old techniques — no wheel, no machines. Many visitors enhance their experience by staying at a Sigatoka homestay to fully immerse in village life.

• Hand-coiling method: Clay is rolled, built up, then smoothed with shells or wooden tools.
• Firing in open flame: Pots are baked in open ground fires, not electric kilns.
• Decorative touches: Local ash, stone polishing, and tribal patterns finish each piece.

Why This Experience Is So Special

Watching pottery made by hand in a Fijian village connects you to something timeless. You're not just seeing how a pot is formed — you're witnessing knowledge passed down through matriarchs for centuries, similar to the traditional skills shared in a women's weaving collective. Many artisans here are grandmothers who learned from their mothers, often with no formal schooling but immense skill.

How to Visit & What to Expect

Most visits are arranged through local guides, resorts, or community tourism collectives. You'll usually be welcomed with a short introduction, then guided to an open-air workspace where the women demonstrate, explain, and may even invite you to try forming a piece of your own.

• Open hours: Daytime visits, best before 3 PM.
• Entrance: Donation-based or small fee — supports the artisans directly.
• Souvenirs: Handmade pieces are available for purchase — no haggling, prices are fair and set by the village.

Travel Tips for Respectful Visits

This isn't a tourist attraction — it's someone's home and tradition. Dress modestly, ask before taking photos, and engage with curiosity and gratitude, following proper village dress etiquette.

• Wear a sulu (sarong): Or shorts that go below the knee, especially for women.
• Support directly: Buying a pot helps sustain the tradition — and the family who made it.
• Ask questions: Artisans love to share the meaning behind their work if you're curious and respectful.