07/09/2020
Monday History :
Facts about the potter-woman on the Twenty Naira (₦20) note.
Her name is Ladi Kwali and she was born in the small village of Kwali, in present day Abuja, in about 1925. However, some historians argued that she was born in 1920.
Her first name “Ladi” means “born on Sunday” while her surname “Kwali” is the name of her village in which she was born.
During her early years as a professional potter, Ladi Kwali was moved by her traditional and cultural environment to produce pottery pieces that were influenced by the Gbagyi tradition and accentuated with personal idioms.
In 1950, an English studio potter named Michael Cardew saw her work at the Emir’s palace, he was surprised by the level of her proficiency, as a result he stayed back for the purpose of spreading her work to the whole world.
Despite having no schooling, she was honoured with a doctorate degree by the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State in 1977; she was also a part-time lecturer and demonstrator.
