International Women’s Day.

^{A woman is born with expectations, A mother, A sister, A daughter, A cook, A wife, A therapist and the list goes on.}

^{Her place in the world stretches beyond the reach of her home, She is the gift of her community, the beauty of her society and the heartbeat of her motherland.}

Let us share the story of a woman who made magic out of all these expectations. Ladi Kwali.

 

Born in the village of Kwali in the Gwari region of Northern Nigeria (The Gbagyi tribe) in 1925, She started the craft of pottery making when she was only nine years old.

Thanks to her aunt, who taught her this family craft, Ladi Kwali’s pieces were soon sold in marketplaces and most times would be sold out even before they made it to the marketplace.

Ladi Kwali’s Brilliance can not be overemphasized as her approach to clay was echoed by mathematical undertones seen in her continuous display of symmetry.

 

Michael Cardew, who was appointed to the post of Pottery Officer in the Department of Commerce and Industry in the colonial Nigerian Government in 1951, saw Ladi Kwali’s works in the palace of Emir of Abuja, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, and was astonished by the artistry and arranged to meet her.

Michael Cardew went on to establish the Pottery Training Centre in the now-Suleja area of the FCT and invited Ladi Kwali, who became the first woman to be trained in wheel throwing, glazing, kiln firing, the production of saggars, and the use of slip.

 

After joining the center, Ladi Kwali paved the way for four other women from her tribe to be trained. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, her works were exhibited at the Berkeley Galleries. She gave demonstrations at the Royal College, Farnham, and Wenford Bridge in Great Britain.

 She also gave demonstrations in France and Germany over this period. On October 1st, 1960, her works were displayed to celebrate Nigerian independence.

 

In 1963, she received recognition from Britain (Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE). She also received the Silver Award for Excellence at the 10th International Exhibition of Ceramic Art at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., that same year.

Although Kwali had no formal education, she was appointed a resource person at the Abuja Pottery Training Centre, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, and demonstrated at various institutions abroad.

In 1977, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, honoured her with a doctorate degree. Other awards are: the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) in 1980, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 1981, the renaming of the Abuja Pottery Training Centre to Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre.

 

Kwali is the first woman to appear on Nigerian currency. Major roads in Abuja (FCT), Niger State and even school halls and hostels have been named after her.

Ladi Kwali lived 59 years and made such a remarkable impact within this time of her life.

 

Today at Girly Essentials, we celebrate every woman in the world. We are reminding you just how bold and beautiful you are and leaving you with the mandate to #choosetochallenge.