Several kilometres south of central Segou, a cluster of villages specialises in pottery — a craft tradition that has been practised here for generations. The pots are made from local clay using hand-building techniques without a wheel, fired in open kilns, and decorated with geometric patterns. The finished pieces are used throughout the region for storing water, cooking, and carrying goods.
Visiting the pottery area is straightforward — any local guide or taxi driver can take you there. The work is done in compounds and family workshops rather than formal studios, and the pace of production is determined by the weather (the pieces must dry in the sun before firing). You can buy pieces directly from the potters. The red-brown unglazed pottery of the Segou region has a distinctive style that differs from the decorated terracotta of Djenné and the pottery traditions of other West African cultures.