Meet the 19-year-old super-talented Nigerian who gets revelations from God to paint

Theodora Aidoo December 05, 2019
Emediong Udnak Udo – the Artist behind the First African Piece to ever grace the walls of Cyprus Modern Art Museum - Pic Credit: hernetwork.co

African visual artists play an instrumental role in positioning the cultures of the continent before the world.

More interestingly is the crop of young African artists, who are breaking out of the norm and getting global recognition for their art.

Emediong Uduak Uko, a Nigerian medicine and surgery student and a self-taught artist, finds art as a hobby.

The 19-year-old muralist and mixed-medium artist’s painting of Nigeria’s Afro-juju legend, Lagbaja, dubbed “Lagbaja: The Masked One” has been added to the collection of the Cyprus Modern Art Museum.

She had a keen interest for painting at the tender age of six. She would paint while doing her class work until she was discovered.

The super-talented teenager is a Christian and she is spiritually inspired. According to her, the Bible shaped her imagination and for her paintings, she believes they are revelations from God.

Besides her spiritual inclination which is probably connected to the revelations she gets to paint, she said she also gets inspired by people and other things around her and that enables her to create a mental image that reflects in her paintings.

For Uko, although juggling a science course and her artistic passion together isn’t an easy task she is able to manage her time well so that her medical and artistic career are at equilibrium.

Her painting of “Lagbaja: The Masked One” made her the youngest and first African whose piece has been adopted to the Cyprus museum’s catalog, which houses works dating as far back as 1940s.

In her Instagram post, she wrote: “I’m pleased to announce to the general public that my artwork is now a part of the vast collection of the Cyprus Modern Art Museum!”

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I’m pleased to announce to the general public that my artwork is now a part of the vast collection of the Cyprus Modern Art Museum! ?This is the largest museum in the Mediterranean region. My work is now in the possession of the owner of my university- Forbes listed Cypriot Businessman, Suat Günsel. Apparently, I am the youngest and only African Art piece in the entire museum with works dating as far back as 1940. Somebody pinch me! More importantly, this painting is dedicated to none other than the legendary Nigerian musician and political activist himself, Lagbaja. @officiallagbaja . I decided if I’m going to put a timeless piece in the walls of a foreign land, it should be about the ones back home. Sir, if you’re reading this, know that you’ve inspired a culture. You’ve created both war & peace with your passion and creativity and that is everything I stand for. This is the least I could do to show appreciation. I’d like to thank God and his Spirit that makes things possible through me- He placed me here. The fact that my art value has gone up more than 10x by reason of this event is still mind blowing. To all the curators and friends who kept this huge announcement on the dl and pumped me with endless support, I love you. Sir Eric ‘Dollar’ Ikpe @official.ericdollar & Sir Umoh @official_umoh – I’m eternally grateful for masterminds like you. [60:3] forever. GOD IS THE GREATEST. ?: all photo credit goes to the one & only photography coverage with the creative eye @breaktheeyes Sidebar: you can check out my work in their official website if you’re curious. ? Signed Picasso The Lady

A post shared by Dr. Emediong the Artist⚜️ (@emilyuko) on

She revealed that the piece is dedicated to Lagbaja: “Sir, if you’re reading this, know that you’ve inspired a culture. You’ve created both war and peace with your passion and creativity and that is everything I stand for. This is the least I can do to show appreciation.”

Uko revealed that her painting is now in the possession of Forbes-listed Cypriot businessman, Suat Günsel. She also runs a budding arts company called Asher’s Palette while currently studying in the Near East University of Cyprus.

Last Edited by:Kent Mensah Updated: December 5, 2019

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