Ladi Kwali

**Ladi Kwali** anaa **Ladi Dosei Kwali** ( – 12 August 1984) na she be a Nigerian potter, ceramicist den educator.

Na dem born Ladi Kwali insyd de village of Kwali insyd de Gwari region of Northern Nigeria, wer na pottery be an indigenous occupation among women. She learn pottery as a kiddie thru ein aunt, dey use de traditional method of coiling. She make large pots for use as water jars, cooking pots, bowls, den flasks from coils of clay, dem beat from de insyd plus a flat wooden paddle. Na dem be decorated plus incised geometric den stylized figurative patterns, wey dey include scorpions, lizards, crocodiles, chameleons, snakes, birds, den fish. 

Na dem note ein pots for dema beauty of form den decoration, wey na dem recognize am regionally as a gifted den eminent potter. Na dem acquire chaw by de emir of Abuja, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, insyd ein home na dem see by Michael Cardew insyd 1950.

## Early life

Na dem born Miss Kwali insyd de small village of Kwali, present Kwali Area Council of de Federal Capital Territory, insyd 1925 (oda historians dey indicate ein date of birth be actually 1920). She grow up insyd a family wey keep up plus de folkloric female tradition of pottery making. Mallam Mekaniki Kyebese, Ladi Kwali ein younger bro, state; “even in the early years of pottery making, Ladi Kwali excelled in the crafts and her wares were often sold even before they were taken to the markets”.

During ein first professional years, de traditional cultural environment move am make she produce pottery pieces wey na dem influence by de Gbagyi tradition den accentuate plus personal idioms. Na ein approach to clay dem echo by mathematical undertones, dem make visible by de continuous display of symmetry.

## Awards den achievements

Insyd 1954, na dem feature Kwali ein pots insyd de International exhibition of Abuja pottery organize by Michael Cardew.

Na dem award Kwali an MBE (Member of de Order of the British Empire) insyd 1963.

Insyd 1977, na dem award am an honorary doctoral degree from Ahmadu Bello University insyd Zaria.

Insyd 1980, de Nigerian Government (from de Cabinet Office of de Federal Republic of Nigeria) dem invest for am plus de insignia of de Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM), de highest national honor for academic achievement.

She sanso receive de national honour of de Officer of de Order of the Niger (OON) insyd 1981.

Ein picture dey appear for de back of de Nigerian 20 Naira banknote.

Dem dey bell a major street insyd Abuja Ladi Kwali Road.

De Sheraton Hotel dey house de Ladi Kwali Convention Center, wich be one of de largest conference facilities insyd Abuja, wey dey consist of ten meeting rooms den four ballrooms.

Dem dey hold ein works in collection all around de world, such as Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, USA, Victoria and Albert Museum, den Aberystwyth University Ceramics Gallery, UK

Insyd 2022, a significant exhibition dem title *Body Vessel Clay, Black Women, Ceramics & Contemporary Art,* Dr Jareh Das wey curate den conceive am, na dem hold am at Two Temple Place den de York Art Gallery. Dis exhibition highlight Ladi Kwali den ein influence on a generation of Black female artists, wey dey use Kwali as a starting point make dem explore 70 years of ceramics by Black women artists.

Na de Google Doodle for 16 March 2022 be in honor of Kwali.

## References