At 13, Sonma Chinye-Nwoko Finds Her Voice in Art

Yinka Olatunbosun 

At just 13, Sonma Chinye-Nwoko has taken a leap many artists spend years building the courage to make — choosing, at an age when most are still finding their footing, to take up space in Nigeria’s art scene.

She recently made her debut with UNBOUND, a solo exhibition of 16 works at SOTO Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Working in acrylic on canvas, charcoal and mixed media, Sonma draws largely from nature, exploring themes of identity, freedom, hope, resilience and becoming.

For Sonma, UNBOUND is more than an artistic statement. It reflects her hope of encouraging other young people to work hard, harness their natural talents and showcase their gifts with confidence, despite the pressures of the times.

“I want to inspire young people to do works like this and showcase their talents to the world,” she said.

Art, for Sonma, is a space without limits — a place to be curious, experiment and tell stories in a language uniquely her own. It is this trust in her own imagination, more than technical polish, that gives UNBOUND its quiet force.

For guests who gathered to witness her debut, UNBOUND was both a celebration of youthful talent and the beginning of a promising artistic journey.

Sonma’s mother, Dr. (Mrs) Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, said the family began to recognise her talent in Primary 2, when her teacher noticed that her drawings often expressed her moods and feelings. Her parents encouraged her with art supplies, and three years ago, as she began entering school competitions, they brought in an art instructor to nurture her growing talent.

When Sonma first mentioned exhibiting her work last year, her parents assumed it was a passing idea. But she asked again this year, and they decided it was time to give her the opportunity. “We knew we had to let her showcase her God-given talent,” her mother recalled .

“We are incredibly proud of her and hope this is only the first of many exhibitions.”

For Sonma, this is only the beginning — a first step in discovering her voice, developing her talent and inspiring others along the way.