Long before women in Nigeria started topping charts or winning medals, a young Gwari girl from Kwali, near Abuja, was already making waves with her bare hands—literally.

Ladi Kwali, born in 1925, began pottery as a child, learning the traditional craft passed down by women in her village. But it wasn’t just pots she was moulding—she was shaping legacy. Her work was so intricate and beautiful that British potter Michael Cardew took notice and invited her to join his studio. There, Ladi blended African tradition with Western techniques, creating art that stunned the world.

She became the first Nigerian woman to have her pottery displayed at international exhibitions—London, Germany, France, and more. Her signature? Beautifully carved pots that told African stories.

In 1963, she was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and today, her face graces the ₦20 note—a lasting tribute to the little girl who turned mud into masterpiece.