Ladi Kwali: Google celebrates Nigerian potter with doodle

Google on Wednesday celebrated Nigerian potter, Ladi Kwali, with a doodle on its home page.

Kwali was an educator, ceramicist, glassworker, and potter, who helped introduce the international community to the beauty of Nigerian art through intricately decorated earthenware designs.

She learnt pottery in her childhood and later developed her own style which included fabricating everyday containers ornamented with animal iconography.

Kwali’s works were showcased as masterful decorations in the homes of the wealthy and even palaces.

In 1950, Michael Cardew, founder of Abuja’s first potter training centre, discovered her talent after seeing her work at a royal palace.

Kwali became the first Nigerian woman to train in advanced pottery techniques, fusing her traditional style with innovative methods to craft a hybrid collection of pottery.

She achieved international acclaim in the 60s following exhibitions across Europe and the Americas.