By Seun Sanni and Nneka Chile
UYO, Nigeria, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Michael Sunday is
delighted, if a little stunned, as he admires his new right
hand: a silicone glove-like prosthetic meant to help him return
to normal life after he lost three fingers in a car accident a
year ago.
The prosthetic has a hyper-realistic feel and, unusually, is
dark in colour, matching perfectly the tone of Sunday's skin.
Most fake body parts available in Nigeria until now have
been white, or made from materials such as wood that also look
unrealistic.
"Wow, this is lovely," Sunday said, his voice choked with
emotion, as he looked at the prosthetic for the first time.
"I have my fingers back," said the 22-year-old student, who
lost the thumb and fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand
when the car he was riding in with his parents on Dec. 31, 2018,
collided with another vehicle.
The artist behind the creation is John Amanam, a 32-year-old
former movie special effects expert. He developed an interest in
prosthetics after a family member lost a limb in an accident.
"I became emotional about amputees," said Amanam, who is
also Nigerian.
"They had this feeling of discomfort whenever they were
around other people. I saw it as a challenge. If I could give
back or solve this need, it would go a long way to ease that
emotional trauma and loss of confidence," he added.
"I just want them to feel at home and be whole,
aesthetically."
So he started making prosthetic fingers, hands, arms, legs
and ears in 2017. Depending on the size and complexity of the
prosthetic, it takes three weeks to two months to make one.
Amanam has no formal training in making prosthetics but
studied sculpting as an art student. The pieces are sold for at
least 40,000 naira ($111).
His company, Immortal Cosmetic Art, is part of a growing
services industry that has helped Nigeria's economy become the
biggest in Africa.
Amanam said mismatched skin tone makes it more difficult for
people to feel confident with their artificial limbs.
To prepare Sunday's hand, he took measurements, made a
plaster cast and mixed paints on a palette, as any artist would,
searching for the right skin tone. The result was lifelike.
"You rarely find people with black skin prosthetics," Amanam
said. "I want this need to be met within Africa. I want to reach
out to blacks all over the world as well, by making this process
accessible, at an affordable rate."
Sunday, who covers a slight seam between the silicone glove
and his forearm with a watch bearing a wide wristband, is
certainly a satisfied customer.
"I can go about my normal life without people looking at my
hand, without hiding my hands or fear of discrimination or
pity," he said.