Ladi Kwali

In early 1920's, Kwali village of the then Northern Nigeria now in the FCT welcomed the birth of another baby girl - Ladi Kwali. (Most ancients used their home town's name as their surname). But she proved in the following years that it was an exceptional one.

Following the societal norms of the time, Ladi practiced pottery making. Her early products were hand built from cradle to marketable form. Her incision styles pronounced creativity, excellence, balance, symmetry.

The products called for buyers in the local market themselves and this gradually brought Ladi Kwali to the world stage as a professional yet unschooled.

Through Michael Cardew, a British officer, the colonial government established a pottery training centre in Suleja and Ladi joined as the first female potter. There, she learned more skills related to pottery and later became an instructor. It's no surprise the centre was named after her in the early 80's.

From lessons alongside other colleagues, Ma'am Ladi produced hybrids from traditional styles and a western studio.
By late 1950's through early 60's, Ladi's pots were featured in international exhibitions held in Abuja, France and Germany. She also toured America with Michael Cardew.

Demonstrating in a foreign city.

Her international awards and achievements surmise the amazing skill Ladi displayed in her roughly 60 years on Earth (she died 1984). Among them are;

• OON- Order of the Niger.
• MBE- Member of the order of the British empire.
• A honorary doctoral degree from ABU, Zaria.
• NNOM- Nigerian National Order of Merit award (the highest national honour for academic achievement in Nigeria 🤔)
• A major Street and convention centre in a hotel in Abuja are both named after her.
• Etc.

What's said about "do you see a woman skillful in her work...."