In Southern Senegal, a Potter Preserves Culture One Sculpture at a Time

Far from the hustle and bustle of Dakar, over 400 kilometers to the south, lies the village of Edioungou in the Casamance region. There, amidst the dense greenery and age-old traditions, pottery is more than a craft — it is a heritage, a form of memory preserved and passed down through the hands of women. In this Diola community, where women are the pillars of both household and society, pottery is a matrilineal art — taught from mother to daughter, generation after generation. It is in this context that Marie-Évelyne Bassène lives and creates. More than just a potter, she is a guardian of culture and history. Through her hands, ancestral gestures are repeated — but not merely copied. They are transformed into sculptural narratives where memory, womanhood, and cultural preservation come together. Her pieces are not only functional or decorative: they tell stories. They evoke the role of women, ancestral knowledge, and the spiritual and symbolic world of her community. DakArtNews met with her in Edioungou to learn more about her journey, her inspirations, and the meaning behind her creations.

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My name is Evelyne Marie-Rosalie Bassène. I make both artistic pottery and simple pottery. I’m also a trainer.

Pottery is our main activity here. It’s passed down from mother to daughter, from generation to generation. It was my mother who taught me this craft. She, too, learned it from her mother, who had learned it from her grandmother, and so on. Later, I went to an art school in Morocco to improve my skills. I stayed there for three years to earn a qualification diploma. I had a scholarship from the State. In Morocco, I didn’t just study pottery. I learned many things: woodworking, welding, visual arts, ceramics…As for pottery, over there, they used kilns for firing, whereas here it’s still the traditional method — that is, firing over a wood fire.

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Why do you do what you do? What is the purpose of your art?

I use art to tell stories. Each piece has its own story. The sculpted pieces speak about our culture. For example, there is a traditional bucket that our grandmothers used to collect water from the pond. They only drank pond water, because at that time, there were no wells. Today, this bucket is used to store palm wine during major traditional ceremonies. You’ll find it, for example, in the sacred forest.

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You sculpt a lot of women. Is that because you’re a woman yourself?

No, it’s because of the important role that women play in our community. Here, it’s the women who are responsible for the households. They manage everything when misfortune strikes or when peace reigns — it’s the women who carry it all.

Look at this sculpture, made during the COVID period. You’ll see that the woman is on top, and her husband is below. Why? Because here, women take the lead when there are problems. This piece is about the dialogue between her and her family, and a call for solidarity during that difficult time. During COVID, we women didn’t sleep — we were imploring the ancestors to ward off this misfortune. We act quickly when we sense a threat to our community. When there’s a problem, the men step aside and let us deal with it.

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What inspires your creations?

An artist must be creative and not simply copy. Each individual has their own culture. So I look into my culture to decide what sculpture to create in order to illustrate it.

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Do you also aim for beauty?

No, I create pieces that have symbolic value — not just to be beautiful. They have to say something. I love who I am, and that’s why I’m telling my culture through my work.

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And the presence of animals…?

The lion is the king of the forest. Here, when we hear an owl, it signals something bad — like a death, for example. It’s very rare to hear it. The mermaid represents entities that live in the sea. It’s a divine creature. But in this sculpture here, I show a mother mermaid with her child, to call for greater solidarity.

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Your sculptures are quite profound…

Yes. Because they come from what we live. I take inspiration from our daily reality, our symbols, our values, our ancestors. Everything I sculpt carries meaning. I want people to recognize themselves, and for it to speak to their conscience.