₦airaland Forum

The woman whose portrait we see depicted on Nigeria’s 20 Naira note is Ladi Kwali, born 1925. She was born in the hamlet of Kwali, in the Gwari region of Northern Nigeria, where women frequently worked as potters.





The iconic Nigerian ceramic artist began coiling, creating with the traditional African methods as a child. In 1954 she joined Michael Cardew’s Pottery Training Center in the village of Abjua as its only female potter. There she learned to throw on the wheel and use western high fire kilns.







Ladi became Nigeria’s best-known potter, toured the world giving demonstrations and she is now featured on the back of the 20 Naira bill. Her large vessels are highly sought after on major auction sales. The Abuja Pottery Training Center has since been renamed Dr. Ladi Kwali Pottery.

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