UYO, Nigeria — Two brothers in Nigeria have revolutionised prosthetics technology in Africa by developing bionic limbs that mimic real human arms, especially for people with darker skin tones.
Special-effects artist John Amanam and his brother Ubokobong developed the Ubokobong Bionic Arm through their company, Immortal Cosmetic Art, combining realistic aesthetic design with advanced biomechatronics. The device detects electrical signals from the wearer’s muscles to enable natural movement, offering an African-engineered alternative to expensive imports.
The idea came from Ubokobong, who lost some fingers in a 2019 fireworks accident and couldn’t find any prosthetic limbs that matched his skin colour. After creating an aesthetically pleasing prosthetic limb for him, John conducted extensive research to develop a motorised prosthetic limb. Their novel creation has recently received international acclaim in TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026.
While base models start at $6,000 due to complex production demands, the enterprise subsidises devices through insurance programmes and philanthropic partnerships to broaden access.
“It’s more of rehabilitation. It has to do with working on the mind; it’s psychological and helps restore confidence,” explained John Amanam. “With bionic arms, it helps to also restore functionality.”
By bridging fine art and industrial engineering, the brothers hope their work encourages African researchers and inventors to pursue domestic solutions to pressing societal challenges.
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