What if a painting had no face but still made you feel something? What if a work of art could show kindness, struggle, or joy without saying a single word? Writes Ireho Aito.

“Asuku is an artist I met and fell in love with his works at first site. His works were like a missing puzzle in my gallery space.”

This statement comes from no other person than the highly gifted artist, curator of repute and art connoisseur, Femi Williams of Iwalewa Art Gallery in Lagos. A gallery known for its standards and integrity. Musa Asuku Momoh is a member of the flourishing collective from School of Art and Industrial Design, Federal Polytechnic Auchi, the Auchi Klass of ’99, a group of graduating students in 1999, that held their 25th year anniversary exhibition titled ‘Constellation’ at the gallery in 2024.
Since that encounter, Femi Williams believed that Musa Asuku is from a different planet.

That’s what Musa Asuku Momoh does.
He paints people, but not always their faces.
He paints stories not ones we read in books, but the ones we carry in our hearts.

His work speaks in a language that doesn’t need words. It’s for everyone.

Musa Asuku Momoh is a talented Nigerian artist and graduate of the School of Art and Industrial Design at Federal Polytechnic Auchi. He is also a proud member of the Auchi Klass of ’99. Musa’s work tells stories about people, emotions, and life in Nigeria, using simple but powerful images. His art invites everyone to look deeper into what connects us all as human beings.

One of Musa’s famous paintings is Brother’s Keeper. This work shows how important it is to care for and help others, no matter who they are or where they come from. By painting children helping each other, Musa reminds us of the pure kindness and care that exists naturally in all of us. Children help not because they have to, but because they truly want to, without judging others.

Musa often paints people without faces. This is a special way he uses to make us think beyond things like skin colour, religion, or social status. When the faces are missing, we focus more on the feelings and the shared humanity of the people. This style helps break down barriers and reminds us that everyone deserves respect and kindness.

His 2010 painting Ere Omode (Child’s Play) captures the happiness and innocence of children. It shows how kids quickly forgive and forget when they have a fight. They soon start playing again, full of laughter and curiosity. This painting reminds us to hold on to the simple joy and open hearts we had as children.

In 2006, Musa created Somewhere in Lagos. This painting shows the busy life in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. It is full of energy with people moving, trading, and working together. The painting celebrates the strong spirit of the city and its people, showing how life keeps going even in the most crowded and chaotic places.

His 2024 painting Serious Discuss looks at Northern Nigeria, a region often thought to be all the same. Musa shows the many different groups and traditions there by painting a person in traditional clothes but without a face. This reminds us to see beyond outer differences and find unity in shared humanity.

Another work, ‘Companions’ also talks about Northern Nigeria. By showing faceless figures in traditional dress, Musa encourages us to think about how people are connected, no matter their background. The painting speaks to the power of friendship, equality, and belonging.

Musa’s Friend for Beauty was inspired by a visit to Kano. It shows young women putting henna on each other’s hands, a practice that is both beautiful and a way to bond with friends. This painting celebrates tradition, friendship, and the joy of sharing simple moments together.

In Under the Hat, Musa paints the traditional hat worn by a Fulani herder. The hat protects the herder from the hot sun, but the painting uses cool blue colors around the hat to show a feeling of calm and relief. This work mixes culture and nature in a thoughtful way.

Musa’s art is unique and full of meaning. I first saw his work and instantly felt a strong connection. His paintings bring a fresh, vibrant energy that adds new life to any space. At the Iwalewa Art Gallery, his artworks have made the collection richer and more inspiring for everyone who visits.

Through his art, Musa Asuku Momoh shows us the beauty of kindness, the strength in diversity, and the power of human connection. His work teaches us to look beyond what divides us and to remember the simple love we can all share.

Musa is not just an artist; he is a storyteller of the human spirit. His paintings reach deep inside us and remind us to care, forgive, and come together. He is a proud Nigerian artist whose work continues to inspire many across Africa and beyond.

Words/Ireho Aito/Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger!/Artworks/Musa Asuku Momoh