Adong, Sanday Rhodest2026-03-192026-03-192025-10Adong, S. R. (2025). Ritual pottery and its repurposing in contemporary social design space in Acholi sub-region, northern Uganda.Kyambogo University (Unpublished work)https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12504/2766xvi, 214 p. : col.Pottery constitutes a fundamental element of material culture, deeply embedded in the socio-cultural fabric of communities across the world for millennia. Among the Acholi people of Northern Uganda, pottery has historically played a pivotal role in familial and communal rituals. However, the forces of modernisation and globalisation have engendered misconceptions surrounding both the rituals and the associated ceramic traditions, leading to the secret production and use of ritual pottery, which is the main focus for this study. This study was conducted in the sub-counties of Awach, Paibona, and Pukony in Gulu District with the overarching aim of adapting the Acholi ritual pottery for integration into contemporary social design space. Specifically, the study explored Acholi family rituals that used pots, analysed the significant use of pots in rituals, and engaged in a community-based practicum to explore the potential for repurposing ritual pots within contemporary physical and ideological contexts. Blumer's theory of symbolic interactionism served as the theoretical foundation for the study, which employed ethnographic research design and a qualitative methodological approach. The research population included potters, cultural leaders, elders, and pot users from both rural communities and modern social environments. Purposive and snowball sampling strategies facilitated the selection of twenty-five (25) participants. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus group discussions (FGDs), and photographic documentation. Thematic analysis was employed to interpret the data systematically in alignment with the research objectives. Findings revealed that despite prevailing societal stigma, ritual pottery continues to be produced and utilised within the community. The study documented a range of ritualistic practices involving ceramic vessels, with a specific focus on three primary family rituals: birth, naming, and death. Five distinct ritual pots were examined, some of which were explicitly crafted for ceremonial use, while others were repurposed from conventional pottery. These included twin pots (Agulu Kirubi), bathing troughs (Agulu Otako/Otako Lwok), serving bowls (Atabo Lobo), umbilical cord pots (Atabo Pen/Lawum Pen), and burial plots (Agulu Lyel). Furthermore, through the community practicum, ritual pottery was reinterpreted and produced for adaptation within the contemporary spaces. The study recommends the implementation of vocational skills training to mitigate the skills gap among ageing potters and to ensure the sustainable transmission of pottery-making techniques. Additionally, the research advocates for the conservation and innovative repurposing of ritual pottery within contemporary design frameworks to foster cultural continuity and enhance the visibility of Acholi material heritage in contemporary social settings.enPotteryAcholi (African people)RitualMaterial cultureIndigenous artThesis