Nigerian artist Ladi Kwali produced exquisitely incised ceramic vessels with the forms and motifs of her native Gwari region. Her cooking pots, tureens, bowls, and water jars like this one—the most desirable form because of its broad surface—blend Indigenous and European techniques and visual traditions. Raised in a rural area near present-day Abuja, Kwali learned the traditional coiling method from her aunt, using local clays and cassava starch in the incised decorations. Her work became well known locally, and when revered British potter Michael Cardew (M.2024.82.3) saw her pots in 1950, he invited her to work at the newly built Abuja Pottery Training Centre (since renamed in Kwali’s honor). There, he introduced her to the potter’s wheel and high-firing clays, glazes, and porcelain slips that gave her pieces durability and a shimmery, almost iridescent luster. While typical Nigerian pottery features simple geometric designs and crosshatching, the incised motifs on Kwali’s pieces record the natural world of northern Nigeria, including vegetation, fish, birds, scorpions, and lizards.
Through her work and teaching, Kwali became a national hero—for the past fifty years, her image has graced the 20-naira banknote—and her pots became the quintessential diplomatic gift. Her influence in Africa and abroad is incalculable, a rich legacy that has influenced generations of artists, including the celebrated Kenyan-British potter Magdalene Odundo.
Bobbye Tigerman
2024
