Angas Basketry

Angas Basketry is a traditional craft of the Angas people of Plateau State, Nigeria. The craft produces woven baskets used for agriculture, storage, transport, and household purposes, reflecting the Angas community’s farming traditions in the savanna and highland environments of central Nigeria.

Historical Background

The Angas inhabit areas of the Jos Plateau and surrounding regions, where agriculture has long been the primary livelihood. Basketry developed as a practical craft to support farming activities, particularly the harvesting, transport, and storage of grains such as millet and maize.

Historically, Angas baskets were traded in local markets and exchanged with neighboring communities, contributing to regional economic networks in the Middle Belt.

Materials and Construction

Angas basket makers use plant materials readily available in their environment, including:

• Grasses
• Palm fibers
• Bamboo
• Flexible branches

Materials are harvested seasonally, dried, and woven into sturdy, breathable structures suited to storing crops in warm climates.

Some baskets are tightly woven for storage, while others feature open weaves for carrying produce.

Functions and Uses

Traditional uses include:

• Harvesting and transporting farm produce
• Storage of grains and dried foods
• Carrying firewood and household goods
• Market trade and produce display

Certain basket forms are used for winnowing grain and separating chaff.

Cultural Significance

Basketry reflects the Angas people’s agricultural lifestyle and ecological knowledge. The craft is traditionally passed down within families and contributes to household self-reliance and local trade.

Although primarily utilitarian, Angas baskets represent an important aspect of everyday material culture.

See also

• Angas people
• Plateau State
• Middle Belt Nigeria
• African basketry

References

• Ames, David W. The Angas of Nigeria. African Studies Center, Michigan State University, 1952.
• Mangvwat, B. A. The Peoples of Plateau State. Jos University Press, 2005.
• National Commission for Museums and Monuments (Nigeria). Traditional Crafts of the Jos Plateau. Lagos.