Today’s prosthetics appear to be tailored towards white and lighter skin tones—if they even resemble “human”—but a Nigerian artist hopes to change that. John Amanam, a 32-year-old sculptor and former movie special effects expert, is a Nigerian native interested in prosthetics after a close family member lost a limb in a sad accident.
“I became emotional about amputees,” Amanam said to Reuters. “They had this feeling of discomfort whenever they were around other people. I saw it as a challenge. If I could give back or solve this need, it would go a long way to ease that emotional trauma and loss of confidence. I want them to feel at home and be whole, aesthetically.”
As a result, Amanam says that his customers feel a sense of relief and gratitude.
In 2017, the Nigerian artist began creating prosthetic fingers, hands, limbs, legs, and ears. According to him, it can take several months to build a perfect prosthetic to meet the consumer’s expectations. Despite having no professional expertise in making prostheses, he has found himself in the heart of a rapidly growing industry in the Nigerian market.
Amanam runs the Immortal Gallery, where he shares his genuine passion for his sculptures when he isn’t improving people’s lives.
However, due to the success of these prostheses, Nigerian artists have developed immortal cosmetic art as a side project. He hopes his experience will inspire other African-American musicians.
“You rarely find people with black skin prosthetics,” he said. “I want this need to be met within Africa. I want to reach out to blacks worldwide by making this process accessible at an affordable rate.”
