This painting, “Black Mona Lisa”, powerfully reimagines the timeless aura of da Vinci’s
masterpiece through a distinctly African lens. At its core, it is not just a portrait; it is a statement.
The subject, a young Black woman with tightly braided hair and an uncompromising gaze,
embodies a regal strength and quiet defiance.

This painting speaks volumes when read through the lens of political equality in Northern Nigeria.At the
forefront, we see two figures. One male, one female,both veiled in bold red garments that dominate the
canvas.

This painting is a raw commentary on contradiction . The tension between outward beauty and inward
neglect.
In the foreground, Northern men are painted in striking red turbans, their faces dignified, almost regal.
The red fabric, rich and commanding, presents them as proud and decorated symbols of cultural identity,
status, and authority. To the casual eye, they are clothed in honor, carriers of tradition, guardians of
heritage. Yet, when we shift our gaze to the right, the truth breaks through the façade: a child, bare and
vulnerable, clings to a cow. The child’s nudity and frail state sharply contrast the ornamental beauty of
the men, exposing the neglect within the home while prestige is pursued outside.