(20" x 10" acrylic on canvas panel)

Emerald Verses was inspired from this poem. Working on it felt like an unending calligraphic promenade that relates of our collective journeying from and toward The Creator of the Worlds.

Love is the fragrance that invites mankind to The Divine One's apostles (as), their Revelations awaken us to the Way all human souls innately know.  

(22" x 28" acrylic on canvas)
In the Islamic tradition, The Lotus of The Limit is a gigantic celestial Tree that represents the point beyond which no one passes but the beloved (saw) of The Divine. This painting was inspired from a reality that is beyond the seven heavens and which was experienced by Prophet Muhammad (saw) during his nocturnal Miraj' or Ascension. The poem that offered this painting was Sidrat Al Muntaha The Lotus of The Limit.  

This painting celebrates the lovers' aspirations to follow the prophets (as) in their unity. The center of the piece here represents the inner/outer Kabba/Center where the prophets (as) of The Divine converged, leaving their luminous footprints for us to trace and follow with grace and love. "The Prophets Footprints" started from this poem.  

(24" x 24" acrylic on canvas)
"Sama" is encompassed by the notion of Sound that propels the soul toward The Beloved. This piece represents the innermost fulfillment of Longing, it also demonstrates the cosmic whirling we all participate to, consciously or not, it is in our nature to revolve. One of the most beautiful visions of Surrender is the whirling dervishes who are mirrors of the spheres and divine praising. The poem that conveyed "Sama" visuals can be found here.  

(20" x 24" acrylic on canvas)
This painting was inspired from a divine Islamic tradition that always lingers with me: "I was a Hidden Treasure and I longed to be known therefore I created the spheres so that I may be know." (Hadith Qudsi). This piece's creative process took me in so many directions, it seemed to bewilder me every time I picked up the brush... I must say with all the surprise dances it stirred, this painting taught me much about the different stations of Surrender.  

(22" x 28" acrylic on canvas)
This painting is a celebration of my Soninke roots. The poem Soninke Symphony inspired the piece; transcribing its verses upon canvas was an awesome experience filled with pleasant sounds and scents. The colors selected are intimately linked to Kayes, my beloved father's birthplace.  

(12" x 12" acrylic on canvas panel)
This painting was created from the poem Al Khidr/The Green One which I think is the best explaination for the piece. In the Islamic tradition, Al Khidr (as) is an invisible messenger who imparts Knowledge (by the Will of The Divine). Al Khidr (as) appeared to prophet Moses (as) for this purpose. The intent in painting this piece was to encourage those who think themselves isolated without any teacher or presence to help them on the Way.  

(8" x 18" acrylic on canvas)
This painting evokes the soul's nostalgia for The Divine as it journeys in a chaotic world. The poem incorporated in this piece can be found here.  

(22" x 28" acrylic on canvas)
"Upon the Spheres' Lips" relates to the spiritual Proximity the soul journeys through when we allow it to evolve in Surrender. Here, the movements of the Spheres are considered as the ultimate reflection of Surrender therefore striving to mirror their harmony with the Divine Law introduces the human soul to great beauty. This painting took form from this poem of the same title. I immensely enjoyed painting this piece, its language energy was motherly and gentle.  

(18" x 14" acrylic on canvas panel)
This painting represents the quintessential Africa from ancient times until now. It's a celebration of the Motherland's monumental contributions to civilization that have been deliberately omitted from history books. This piece defeats the label of "dark continent" given to Africa, a continent whose natural, spiritual, historical resources continue to support communities around the globe. "The Luminous, The Coveted" symbolises the uncelebrated revolutionary flux that has molded mathematical, artistic, scientific and agricultural genius for centuries.  

(20" x 24" acrylic on canvas)
This piece symbolises the establishment of Harmony and its triumph over the ills exclusion can cause in communities of men. Terre d'Espoir, a non-profit organization located in Gabon commissioned this painting. To read the poem incorporated in the painting, click here.  

(Acrylic on a Guitar)

One night I was sitting and my eyes rested on my beige guitar and all of the sudden I saw it painted with interesting patterns so I gathered my brushes and paint tubes and I started working on it right away... I entitled the piece "La Note Orange".
Year of Creation: 2006  

(24" x 24" acrylic on canvas)
This painting is a celebration of the prostration, with all the universes that unfold during this prayer position where the lover is closest to The Beloved. This piece has elements I had been longing to express for the longest time so it was a true celebration of the joy of Salat (prayer). The prostration position in Islamic prayer is one of the most moving experience the soul can journey through. Even though to many it may be considered as just a physical position, prostration is the moment when we are closest to Allah (swt), we shed our ego and the grace unfolds... During his prayers alone, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to stay in prostration for a long time and he would often shed tears.
Year of Creation: 2006  

(36" x 24" acrylic on canvas)
Guiaalala means "the light" in Eshira, my maternal dialect. This piece is about the flamboyant dance that pervades our being as we mingle with the wild things Light does. It's a celebration of our bewilderment with The Beloved. The poem I incorporated in the painting was written in French, for its English translation, please click here . It took me three months to complete this painting.
Year of Creation: 2006  

(18" x 24" acrylic on canvas panel)
"Zuhrtime Beads" represents the inner spectacle that can occur when one practices the ritual of Surrender, Zikr and praising of The Divine which all stir the soul to some ecstatic dance we can't fathom ... The whirling energy of this painting captures our harmony with the spheres and the secret activity of all surrendered atoms of the Creation. Read the poem here.
Year of Creation: 2006  

(18" x 24" acrylic on canvas panel)
The Black Hole was published in the textbook "Imaginez". This piece developed from the poem Black Hole I wrote in 1999. The impulse to make a painting of the poem came after listening to a song (by Gabonese composer Shogun). When I first heard the song, its energy brought me straight back to The Black Hole theme so I wanted to visually continue it... The term Black Hole here is multidimensional and thus transcends the region of space from which there is no return; it can be associated with the Breath or any current that pulls creation anew toward The All-Embracing.
Year of Creation: 2006