The Women of Sejnane

Exploring the Unique Art of Handmade Pottery in Rural Tunisia

In the village of Sejnane, nestled in northwestern Tunisia, three women master ancient ceramic-making techniques, a skill passed down for over 3,000 years. Fatma, Zohra, and Hedia—married to three brothers—live surrounded by their community, deeply connected to their land and the traditional pottery methods that define their cultural identity.

Their expertise in handmade ceramics, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018, symbolizes a rich Berber tradition maintained through generations of women artisans. The pottery techniques of Sejnane represent one of the oldest continuous ceramic traditions in North Africa, where local clay is shaped using methods unchanged since pre-Islamic times.

Despite international recognition, economic challenges persist for these master potters, with sporadic sales offering meager earnings. The women's traditional ceramics—characterized by distinctive geometric patterns and natural clay colors—struggle to find consistent markets in modern Tunisia. Yet, the women persevere, determined to preserve their UNESCO heritage craft and pass these ancient techniques on to future generations.

The state's absence exacerbates their struggles, leaving them reliant on their pottery craft for sustenance while maintaining their role as guardians of Tunisia's cultural patrimony. Through documentary photography, this project captures their daily workshop routines, the intricate process of traditional ceramic creation, and the resilience of women preserving millennia-old artistic traditions in rural North Africa.

Amidst adversity, they find resilience, embracing their destiny with gratitude and unwavering determination to keep their ancestral craft alive.

Sejnane, Tunisia. 2020.

Sejnane is located two hours from the Tunisia's capital. Three sisters in law live on the outskirts. - Paula González Gavilanes
Sejnane is located two hours from the Tunisia's capital. Three sisters in law live on the outskirts.
Zohra molds pottery in her Sejnane workshop while chatting with relatives. They take turns working with traditional ceramics every day. - Paula González Gavilanes
Zohra molds pottery in her Sejnane workshop while chatting with relatives. They take turns working with traditional ceramics every day.
The work in Sejnane ceramics is done by hand, one reason why it was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. - Paula González Gavilanes
The work in Sejnane ceramics is done by hand, one reason why it was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
They don't use pottery wheels to make the pieces, so they skillfully rotate the surfaces on which the pieces are placed. - Paula González Gavilanes
They don't use pottery wheels to make the pieces, so they skillfully rotate the surfaces on which the pieces are placed.
From the clay, dyes, to the shells for polishing, everything used is from the immediate environment. - Paula González Gavilanes
From the clay, dyes, to the shells for polishing, everything used is from the immediate environment.
They gather straw and dung from the barn. When mixed, these materials, when burned, serve as a kiln. - Paula González Gavilanes
They gather straw and dung from the barn. When mixed, these materials, when burned, serve as a kiln.
The process of making ceramics involves significant physical. In the photo, Najet hurriedly prepares the fire before it rains. - Paula González Gavilanes
The process of making ceramics involves significant physical. In the photo, Najet hurriedly prepares the fire before it rains.
The pieces take an hour to cook, then they are removed with irons and left to cool before painting. - Paula González Gavilanes
The pieces take an hour to cook, then they are removed with irons and left to cool before painting.
Moufida and Zohra take out the pieces that are ready. The clay changes color upon contact with the fire. - Paula González Gavilanes
Moufida and Zohra take out the pieces that are ready. The clay changes color upon contact with the fire.
The tools they use to decorate and shape the ceramics are simple: shoe soles, stones, shells, and a blade. - Paula González Gavilanes
The tools they use to decorate and shape the ceramics are simple: shoe soles, stones, shells, and a blade.
Mursolin holds herbs from a bush in the courtyard in her hand. This is where they get one of the dyes to paint the pieces. - Paula González Gavilanes
Mursolin holds herbs from a bush in the courtyard in her hand. This is where they get one of the dyes to paint the pieces.
Pottery of Sejnane - Paula González Gavilanes
Pottery of Sejnane
The Women of Sejnane - Paula González Gavilanes
Sejnane is located two hours from the Tunisia's capital. Three sisters in law live on the outskirts. - Paula González Gavilanes
Zohra molds pottery in her Sejnane workshop while chatting with relatives. They take turns working with traditional ceramics every day. - Paula González Gavilanes
The work in Sejnane ceramics is done by hand, one reason why it was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. - Paula González Gavilanes
They don't use pottery wheels to make the pieces, so they skillfully rotate the surfaces on which the pieces are placed. - Paula González Gavilanes
From the clay, dyes, to the shells for polishing, everything used is from the immediate environment. - Paula González Gavilanes
They gather straw and dung from the barn. When mixed, these materials, when burned, serve as a kiln. - Paula González Gavilanes
The process of making ceramics involves significant physical. In the photo, Najet hurriedly prepares the fire before it rains. - Paula González Gavilanes
The pieces take an hour to cook, then they are removed with irons and left to cool before painting. - Paula González Gavilanes
Moufida and Zohra take out the pieces that are ready. The clay changes color upon contact with the fire. - Paula González Gavilanes
The tools they use to decorate and shape the ceramics are simple: shoe soles, stones, shells, and a blade. - Paula González Gavilanes
Mursolin holds herbs from a bush in the courtyard in her hand. This is where they get one of the dyes to paint the pieces. - Paula González Gavilanes
Pottery of Sejnane - Paula González Gavilanes
The Women of Sejnane - Paula González Gavilanes
This article was published in El País, in Spanish. To read it CLICK HERE. - Paula González Gavilanes
This article was published in El País, in Spanish. To read it CLICK HERE.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience.