"One Picture And One Story Week #77"

I want to tell a true important story and also reveal the mystery behind the photo of the beautiful lady in which her picture and her outstanding creativity and intelligence is displayed on the Nigeria's twenty naira note.

Hadiza Ladi Kwali was born in 1925 in Kwali village, Abuja. She was born into the tribe of the Gbagyi people in Hausa ethnic group. The tribe was famously known for their expertise in pottery making. Right from childhood, Hadiza learn how to make pottery art from her aunt who was deligent and well skilled potter who was very good at what she does.
Hadiza's dedication in the art of pottery paved a way for her and made her developed incomparable styles in modern innovations of the Gbagyi's techniques. In that spirit of consistency, her designs were known for it outstanding beauty, durability and functionality.
Hadiza Ladi Kwali passed away in 1984 to meet her creator

It was rampant in the early years of the Africa's culture, that is Nigeria inclusive to name a child after the birth day, birth date, circumstance that led to the birth, someone of high reputation, a family member or a significant event. The above mentioned circumstances influenced the naming of Ladi Kwali in some way. The parent named her Hadiza Kwali. The addition of "Ladi" came about by her British mentor 'Michael Cardew' which to him was a kind of a nickname or fun name as we may call it. This was made cleared to the general public in an interview in 1974 with Hadiza Kwali and Michael Cardew. Hadiza's responded that Ladi is a nickname which means "born on a Sunday" in the Gbagyi language of her Hausa ethnic group in Nigeria.
In the other end, her mentor Michael added that "Ladi" is a Hausa name for Sunday. So since Hadiza was born on a Sunday, the name rhymes and serves as her nickname.
Eliminating racism and not considering the origin of the name, Hadiza was known and regarded professionally and personally as Ladi Kwali.
In summary, her original name "Hadiza", her nickname "Ladi", and "Kwali" her family name all encompasses her full name as "Hadiza Ladi Kwali"

Hadiza's Hardwork paid off and made her a renowned potter, ceramicist and an educator irrespective of not having a formal education. Ladi is was celebrated for two reasons:
•For her contributions in the modern Nigeria's art
•For her exceptional skills in traditional art pottery
And to crown it all up, Ladi Kwali's image was designated on the Nigeria's twenty naira note to represent a sign of honor and also make her the first lady to be featured on the country's currency 💲

Ladi Kwali's work gained recognition in 1950 of which she was invited to feature at the Nigeria's festival of art in Lagos. Grace found her at the event and she was opportune to meet Michael Cardew who was working in Nigeria at the time.
With time, Michael Cardew became her mentor and exposed her to life outside Nigeria. She also got her chance and opportunity and became one of the early Nigerian to travel to united kingdom in 1954, four years after she encountered Michael Cardew to further her studies abroad. This event added more skills, experiences and expertise to her art pottery.

•Member of the order of the Niger(MOD)
•Certificate of merit from the Nigerian government
•Fellowship of the society of Nigeria's artists

The featuring of Ladi Kwali's image on the Nigeria's twenty naira note was led by the Nigerian government in 1991. This made Hadiza Ladi Kwali to become the first Nigerian female to be so honored
Her work served as an inspiration and motivation to women particularly, artists and to the entire Nigeria at large.

I invite
@basil20
@edu-chemist
@bossj23
to participate in this interesting contest