You are what you read. And that is what they say. Books from various writers and authors shaped Hassan Aliyu and his library is a stock pile of books for ideas, innovations and plans for the next project and societal change. Writes Ireho Aito

British – Nigerian artist, Hassan Aliyu is a man of many parts. He is dogged with stalwart qualities. Stories surrounding his birth will make a Netflix movie. Just like so many artists, artists have moving stories just like their innovations and creations. They are spiritually inspired to provoke the consciousness of human race through frequent strokes on canvases, etching on stones, carving in wood and constructing on metal.

Hassan Aliyu’s career journey started from the analogue era buying into natural synthesis and appreciating various revolutions that evolved our globe. Technology and invasion of AI is the new revolution and Hassan is very comfortable to explore in different phases and faces that abound at the corridor of creativity. One interesting fact about this travel maverick Hassan is the provocative style he enacts to let his voice heard by making art as the weapon to channel commentaries.

In a series of conversation, the president of the Nigerian Art Society of United Kingdom, NASUK, an organisation, currently consisting of fifteen members with landmark exhibitions mounted to channel their missions and causes, opened up about the books that inspire him most times.
You are what you read. And that is what they say. Books from various writers and authors shaped Hassan Aliyu and his library is a stock pile of books for ideas, innovations and plans for the next project and societal change.
The focus to be different and remain relevant has always been there.

“I can easily go in and get out for you to read all of Max Siolllun, every Achebe work takes me to the next flight. Sadiya Hartman work are for me and they nurture my inspirational moments when I read. Give me Eric Williams, Walter Rodney, Edward Said, Amilcar Cabral, Aime Casaire, CLR James, Orlando Patterson, Dele Ogun, Adam Hochschild, Marcus Rediker, Joseph Stiglitz, Chika Okeke-Agulu, Frantz Fanon political views about Africa and colonialism is huge.

Young artists should read and read and once again read, so they can practice with vision.

Mentoring is important for every emerging artist , says Hassan Aliyu. Young artists should read and read and once again read, so they can practice with vision. You must have a vision to succeed. After surfing his rich library, the Ahmadu Bello University alumnus gave five books for an emerging artist to pick and read to get more empowered;

1. The African Origin of Civilisation by Cheikh Anta Diop (so we can all be enlightened about our history)
2. The African Origin of the Major World Religions by Ben Joseph Jochanan, Dipo et Al (To challenge cultural imperialism that has relegated the African psyche)
3. Colonialism and Violence by Prof. Toyin Falola (So we can all gain a greater understanding of how colonial violence continues to have an impact on the relationships between the state and it’s constituents – which has morphed into sectarian violence and promises to keep us in that position that facilitates neo-colonialism)
4. ⁠How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Rodney (for a better view of our unwitting implication in the forces of our present predicament in relation to the Western hegemony)
5. ⁠ A Fate Worse Than Debt by Susan George (for its brilliant insights into how sovereign debt in the global south is important and necessary for the advancement of the global North and it’s continued ownership of Africa’s resources while it grapples with hardships that see the continent hurtling towards a bleak and uncertain future)

Words/Ireho Aito/Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger!/Pictures/Hassan Aliyu studio.