'It feels real' Brothers in arms create artificial limbs

On a humid morning in Uyo, Nigeria, Ubokobong Amanam shows off the lifelike prosthetic where his fingers once were.

- By Valentine Benjamin UYO

The skin bears tiny wrinkles, and the nails are naturally shaped. Seven years ago, he was badly injured in a firework accident. The prosthetics available were clumsy, poorly fitted and designed for bodies nothing like his.

"At first, it was deeply disappointing to realise there were no hyper-realistic or even realistic African-style prosthetics," he said. "That discovery made me feel worse and intensified my depression.”

But his brother, John Amanam, was a special effects artist, making replicas of human bodies for film and theatre. Together they began work on a better hand for Ubokobong, designing a prosthetic that did not yet exist, one made for Africans by Africans.

Millions across the continent cannot access prosthetics due to high costs and a lack of availability. And even when they are available, they are often imported and designed for western body types.

The Ubokobong Bionic Arm was the culmination of three years of dedicated research and the brothers' company, Immortal Cosmetic Art, now leads the way in lifelike prosthetics for amputees across Africa.