John Amanam

Last updated
John Amanam
John Amanam.jpg
Born
John Amanam Sunday

(1988-11-14) 14 November 1988 (age 37)
Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
EducationFine and Industrial Arts
Alma mater University of Uyo
OccupationsVisual artist, prosthetic artist, special effects artist
Years active2019–present
EmployerImmortal Cosmetic Art Ltd
Known forHyper-realistic prosthetic art; founder of Immortal Cosmetic Art Ltd
Notable workHyper-realistic prosthetic limbs for darker skin tones
Awards
  • Distinguished Artist of the Year – Society of Nigerian Artists (2025)
  • Nominee, African Genius Awards (2024)
Website www.immortalcosmeticart.com

John Amanam (born November 14, 1988) is a Nigerian sculptor and hyper-realistic prosthetic artist who is credited as the first African to produce hyper-realistic prostheses. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Originally from Nsit-Atai in Akwa Ibom state, South South, [3] Amanam was born in Calabar, Cross River state where he also grew up. He is an alumnus of Federal Government College in Ikot Ekpene, and studied Fine and Industrial Arts at the University of Uyo. [4] [5]

Career

Amanam is a former special effects artist in the Nollywood . He began his hyper-realistic prosthetic career after his brother lost part of his hand in 2018 and the prosthetic options available were starkly white ill-fitting both physically and culturally. His first prosthetic was produced in 2019 and he gave it to his brother. [6] [7] [2]

He is the founder of Immortal Cosmetic Art Ltd a company that craft fingers, ears, noses, limbs and breast forms that look realistic on people of darker complexions, based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. [8] [9] He offers discounted and free services for low-income individuals through a donation-based initiative called Ubokobong, meaning “hand of God” in Ibibio. [10]

His works have attracted International attention through featuring in International media outlets like Reuters, BBC, Al Jazeera and others . He has inspired an inclusive healthcare solutions designed in Africa, by Africans, for Africans and the global Black community. [10] [11]

Achievements

See also

References

  1. ↑ AFRO, Special to the (2023-11-13). "Transforming lives with hyperrealism: The story of John Amanam, Nigerian prosthetic artist". Baltimore Afro-American . Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  2. 1 2 "John Amanam: The Nigerian Sculptor Who Creates Dark-Skin Prosthetics for Black Amputees". qazini.com. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  3. ↑ "John Amanam: 'Dis prosthetics wey I dey do na handmade, no be surgery'". BBC News Pidgin . 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  4. ↑ George, Godfrey (2021-05-22). "Accident which claimed my brother's fingers motivated me to start making prostheses – Sunday, Nigerian sculptor". The Punch . Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  5. 1 2 "TEDxMaitama | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  6. ↑ Ball, Janet. "Sculptor in Nigeria creates black prosthetic hand for his brother". BBC . Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  7. ↑ Bishara, Hakim (2021-02-09). "A Sculptor and Former Special Effects Artist Is Paving the Way in Prosthetics for Darker Skin Tones". Hyperallergic . Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  8. ↑ "Transforming lives with hyper-realistic prostheses: The story of John Amanam, the first Nigerian prosthetic artist | NNPA". nnpa.org. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  9. ↑ AFRO, Special to the (2023-11-13). "Transforming lives with hyperrealism: The story of John Amanam, Nigerian prosthetic artist". AFRO American Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  10. 1 2 Africa, The Voice of (2025-07-01). "John Amanam: Africa's First Hyper‑Realistic Prosthetic Artist for Darker Skin Tones". The Voice of Africa. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  11. ↑ refinedng.com https://refinedng.com/john-amanam-2/ . Retrieved 2025-12-14.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ Alumona, Kingsley (2024-06-08). "Awuzie, Olutoye, two other Nigerians nominated for African Genius Awards". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  13. ↑ Balogun, Halima (2025-12-10). "SNA honours Oshinowo, Shyllon, others". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
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