In 1966, Danlami Aliju turned up at the Pottery Training Centre established by Michael Cardew at Abuja, Nigeria. Despite being too young to be trained as a potter he stayed on as a houseboy and learned his skills from Michael OBrien, Ladi Kwali and the other potters. In the early 1970s Danlami came to the UK with OBrien and worked with Cardew at Wenford Bridge before studying ceramics at Farnham. He returned to Nigeria in 1979 occasionally exhibiting in London.

This 44cm tall oil jar with a capacity of 2½ gallons was made at Wenford Bridge. When it came into my possession it still contained some rancid oil the smell of which proved quite difficult to eradicate. The decoration includes Cardew's fountain pattern and at the base of the handle is a very large Wenford Bridge stamp. Danlami's initials are scratched on the base of the jar and as I have two other pots made by Danlami at Wenford which have DA stamped marks, this is likely to have been made soon after he arrived in England.