‘Why painting, drawing flow in my veins’

The Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Ibrahim Garba, has described the solo efforts of Aminu Ayuba Ahmed in depicting the rich heritage of Kano through painting as “talented works of Art.” The work is a demonstration of the quality that is inherent in the  university’s School of Art, the VC said. “The […]

The Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Ibrahim Garba, has described the solo efforts of Aminu Ayuba Ahmed in depicting the rich heritage of Kano through painting as “talented works of Art.”
The work is a demonstration of the quality that is inherent in the  university’s School of Art, the VC said.
“The young and promising artist, Aminu Ayuba Ahmed, has used effectively the opportunity and support of the ABU to express his talent in painting using a variety of medium. I am delighted to have the opportunity to support the exhibition capturing the royalty, icons of business/entrepreneurship and imposing cultural heritage of the famous historic city of Kano,” Professor Garba said.
For Ahmed, the exhibition that attracted prominent people like the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sunusi II, business mogul, Aliko Dangote, the Chancellor of ABU, Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, among others, was a dream come true.
According to him, he started the art of painting at a tender age as an apprentice, before he enrolled in school to obtain profession qualification.
“Drawings and paintings are already part of me. Art runs in my blood, because it is something I started right from childhood. I began practicing arts at Muhammad Kabir Art Studio, alias Mash KB Art, Tudun Murtala, Kano in the late 1990s. Since then, I have been into this profession up till today.
“My coming to ABU’s department of Fine Arts, where I interact with prominent visual artists like Professors Mu’azu Mohammed Sani, Jerry Buhari, Jacob Jari, among others, has really encouraged me to take arts more seriously. I think I am privileged with Allah’s mercy and that is why I am where I am today,” Ahmed said.
He advised Nigerian youths, especially those from the Northern part of the country, to have a rethink about their perception of the art of drawing and painting, saying that one can practice the profession without necessarily drawing humans or animals.
“There is even Islamic calligraphy that is in high demand now. There are other types of paintings and drawings that are used in decoration.
“These drawings and paintings can depict history, tradition or culture of Hausas and other tribes. What I am saying is that one can earn a comfortable living in this field without necessarily engaging in those areas that are seen as being prohibited by Islam,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed’s exhibition earned him the VC’s merit award.
Born on December 22, 1979 in Gwagwarwa quarters of Kano State’s Nasarawa Local Government Area, he had his primary and secondary education in the state. He also obtained his National and Higher National Diploma at the Kano State Polytechnic. He joined the services of the ABU’s department of Fine Arts in 2008.