{"id":8016,"date":"2015-07-09T10:17:43","date_gmt":"2015-07-09T09:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/?p=8016"},"modified":"2024-02-01T01:01:06","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T00:01:06","slug":"25-amazing-facts-about-ladi-kwali-the-woman-on-n20-note","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buzznigeria.com\/25-amazing-facts-about-ladi-kwali-the-woman-on-n20-note\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Amazing Facts About Ladi Kwali: The Woman On N20 Note"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ladi Kwali OON, MBE (1925\u20131984, Aged: 59) was a Nigerian potter, ceramicist, and educator best remembered as the pioneer of modern pottery in Nigeria.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The twenty naira note is one of the most used naira denominations in Nigeria, mostly by the low class. Although its value is worth petty things such as sachet water, chewing gum, and pencil among other things, twenty Naira is valuable to make a change, give to beggars, and in some few states, use as bus fare.<\/p>\n

All Nigerian currencies have the faces of prominent people on them. The N1000 has the faces of Aliyu Mai-Bornu and Clement Isong, the N500 has the face of Nnamdi Azikiwe, N200 has\u00a0\u00a0Ahmadu Bello, and N100 has Obafemi Awolowo, while the N50 has faces that represent Nigerian citizens as well as a farmer. The 10 Naira note has the face of Alvan Ikoku and the 5 Naira has the face of Tafawa Balewa. Most of those on the currency, as is obviously seen, are politicians and past leaders of the country.<\/p>\n

For the 20 Naira note, however, the mint green note which shares a color family with the American dollar has two notable Nigerian citizens on it. The front of the note has Former Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, while the back bears renowned Nigerian potter, Ladi Kwali.<\/p>\n

General Murtala Muhammed is well-known for his political pursuit, but only a few Nigerians of this generation know the female potter behind the note.<\/p>\n

Here are twenty-five things you need to about Ladi Kwali<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Hajiya (Dr.) Hadiza Ladi Kwali\u00a0was born in 1925 in\u00a0Gwari, Northern Nigeria.<\/p>\n

2. Her first name “Ladi” means “born on Sunday” while her surname “Kwali” is the name of her\u00a0village in which she was born, which is in\u00a0Gwari.<\/p>\n

3. As a child, Ladi\u00a0learned the\u00a0traditional art of pottery using a method referred to as “coiling and pinching”.<\/p>\n

4. She served as an apprentice under an aunt before moving on to start on her own.<\/p>\n

5. Ladi came into Suleja – Abuja\u00a0with knowledge of traditional Gwari pottery.<\/p>\n\n

6. She made\u00a0figurative patterned pots of different shapes and sizes using her\u00a0natural ability to throw clay with her hands.<\/p>\n

7. These pots were used for ornamental purposes in the residences of aristocrats, as decorations and for domestic use.<\/p>\n

8. Ladi Kwali’s several works of pottery were acquired by the Emir of Abuja among others.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Ladi\u00a0later attended\u00a0Michael Cardew’s Pottery Training Centre Abuja.<\/p>\n

10. She\u00a0learned how to throw pots on the wheel from the European potter, Cardew, and taught\u00a0him some of her local pottery skills.<\/p>\n

\"LADI-KWALI\"<\/a><\/p>\n

11. She made dishes, bowls, and beakers with graffito decorations glazed in a high-temperature kiln.<\/p>\n

12. Between 1950 and early 1960s, her works were shown to great acclaim in London at the Berkeley Galleries.<\/p>\n

13. Ladi Kwali and her works are known in Europe, Britain and America.<\/p>\n

14. Her potteries were\u00a0displayed during Nigeria\u2019s independence celebration in 1960.<\/p>\n\n

15. Ladi Kwali gave lectures and demonstrations on her craft in Nigeria and\u00a0beyond and was\u00a0a part-time lecturer and demonstrator at the Ahmadu Bello University.<\/p>\n

16. Although she could\u00a0neither read nor write, Ladi was awarded a doctorate degree by the Ahmadu Bello University\u00a0of\u00a0Zaria in 1977.<\/p>\n

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17. She was a\u00a0Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).<\/p>\n

18. She also received the national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 1981.<\/p>\n

Check This Out<\/strong>: 10 Remarkable Nigeria facts Every Nigerian Should Know\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

19.\u00a0On her return from a trip abroad, she was named \u00a0“Radio London”, due\u00a0to her enthusiasm to share her tour experience.<\/p>\n\n

20. Ladi was given Silver Award for Excellence, Tenth International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC.<\/p>\n

21. She was the\u00a0best known Nigerian potter before her death on\u00a012\u00a0August 1984. She died in Minna, Niger State.<\/p>\n

22. To honour her, The Abuja Pottery was renamed the Ladi Kwali Pottery and a major street in Abuja is called Ladi Kwali Road.<\/p>\n

23. She\u00a0left a rich legacy of her works, which are\u00a0icons of modern art in Nigeria, and also a school of “students” at the Abuja Pottery Training Centre.<\/p>\n

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24. A sculpture of Ladi Kwali is being done by\u00a0Nigerian sculptor, Ambrose Diala; it is\u00a0to be erected in front of the Federal Secretariat, Abuja on completion.<\/p>\n

25. Ladi\u00a0is the only Nigerian woman who has been featured on a\u00a0currency note – twenty naira note.<\/p>\n