Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Missing Chibok girls sculpted in clay in Nigeria art project

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Dec 2022 22:53
3 Min Read

A French artist and a group of potters sculpt the faces of 108 Nigerian girls who have been kidnapped in 2014 and exhibited them in a hotel in Lagos.

  • x
  • Missing Chibok girls sculpted in clay
    Missing Chibok girls sculpted in clay

The faces of 108 Nigerian girls who remain missing, eight years after having been abducted by Islamist insurgents, were sculpted in clay under the title Statues Also Breathe by an artist, a group of potters, and university students and exhibited at Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

The aim of the exhibition is to raise awareness about the plight of the adopted Chibok girls who have been in captivity by Boko Haram militants since 2014, and to highlight the global struggle for girls’ education.

The militants kidnapped around 270 teenage girls in 2014 from a school in the northeastern town of Chibok. Ever since, about 160 of the girls have been released, some years after captivity,

The kidnapping initially prompted worldwide outrage; however, the story has recently faded from the headlines.

The sculptures which represent the missing girls were achieved in collaboration with the families of the kidnapped Chibok girls, a French visual artist, Prune Nourry, and the Department of Fine and Applied Arts of the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife.

Related News

600 Nigerian children dead due to malnutrition amid foreign aid cuts

Nigeria army base attack leaves 17 soldiers killed in ambush

Viewers of the displayed heads felt nostalgic, as a delegation of mothers of the missing Chibok girls and other girls who were able to escape Boko Haram captivity were also attending to honor and remember their loved ones depicted in the sculptures.

After collecting photos of the missing girls from their families, they were given to 108 students, one for each, and they created the sculptures at a workshop in the southwestern city Ife.

Nourry was inspired by the ancient Ife terracotta heads, and she created portraits of the high school girls imaged in the style of iconic ancestral Ife artistry. She said the sculptures will be taken on a global tour.

Dr Michael Olusegun Fatuigbe, a lecturer in Obafemi Awolowo University who was part of the project from the beginning, said the most interesting part for him was the blend of culture.

“You can see the works are produced in the ancient style. We used Ife arts tradition to project another culture, which is that of the kanuri people and to let us understand that irrespective of our culture, arts, dressing or opinion, we are all faced with the same issues of security and social issues,” he said.

"Because they are in captivity, they are like statues, but they are still alive, still breathing and what are we doing about it? We must not forget these people in captivity.” 

  • Nigeria
  • School kidnapping in Nigeria
  • Nigeria kidnapping
  • Boko Haram

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS