Art From The Nigerian Lifeline

Journeys Through Zaria, Kano, and the Nigerian Countryside

This collection brings together charcoal drawings, mixed media works, and paintings shaped by my seven years of immersion in the world of the Fulani, one of West Africa’s most storied peoples. Accompanied by my Nigerian wife, I traveled through Zaria, Kano, and the surrounding countryside, observing and recording both the quiet resilience and the enduring beauty of their daily lives.

The Fulani—also known as the Fulbe or Peul—are famed for their nomadic traditions, intricate adornment, and eloquent oral histories. Cattle herding lies at the heart of their culture, binding them to land, animals, and movement. Yet in today’s Nigeria, Fulani communities also navigate shifting realities, balancing tradition with the demands of agriculture, commerce, and education.

 My works reflect this dual presence: the timeless rituals that root them in history and the evolving narratives that carry them into the present. Each piece offers a window into lived experience—moments of intimacy within family, the steady rhythm of herding, or the vast horizons of the Nigerian landscape.

 Journeys Through Zaria, Kano, and the Nigerian Countryside is both an homage to Fulani heritage and a record of the insights gained through living among them.