One of three handbooks dealing with pottery traditions from around the world, this packet draws together information about historical, ethnographic, and pottery traditions of two contrasting cultures, the Ashanti of Ghana and the Hausa of Nigeria. The first of two major sections focuses on Ghana. Background information includes subsections on Ghana's topography, climate, economy, and people; the history of the Ashanti; the Ashanti Union of Akan States; and the anti-slavery movement. Subsequent subsections focus on techniques of manufacturing Ashanti pottery, including clays used and types of implements, steps involved in making the pots, uses of decorated ware, firing sequence used, heat resistance, and characteristics of Ashanti blackware. A typology is followed by an examination of religion and taboos surrounding Ashanti pottery. The second major section focuses on Nigeria, with similar coverage of topography, climate, economy, people, and history of the Hausa. An examination of Hausa pottery includes a discussion of clays and implements, making the pots, burnishing and decoration, firing sequence, and typology. Representational art and proverbs and West African recipes are followed by a list of resources, including African and general films, filmstrips, useful addresses, publications, and an illustrated list of pottery described in the handbook. The document concludes with student worksheets which demonstrate techniques and ideas for working with clay. (LH)