wichita.edu
…ceramics were intended for decorative or ritual use, the majority, including these jars and jarlets, were household containers for oils, spices, and medicinal herbs, as well as food. Even domestic items, in most instances, carried subtle adornments or glazing, uniting utility and beauty together. These were also symbolic: curves suggested abundance, and…
https://www.wichita.edu/museums/holmes/JATW-Africa.php