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Moussa Issarou, also known as Moses Mous, is a painter from the town of Maroua in northern Cameroon. He specialises in sgraffito, one of the many techniques he uses to paint in oil, watercolour, gouache, spray and other media. This ancient technique, which combines scraping and scraping, brings him closer to the traditional skills used to build homes in his region. He uses a razor blade, a commonly used object, for his works, which combine acrylic and the sgraffito technique, creating unique textures and depths on his canvases.

Renowned for his vibrant, expressive portraits, Moses Mous doesn't just paint faces: he tells stories, captures souls and breathes hope into those he immortalises on canvas. Each brushstroke, each razor etch reveals much more than appearance: he brings out the inner strength, dignity and resilience of his subjects. Through his art, he offers recognition to those who are often forgotten, recounting broken dreams but also unshakeable hopes. His works become testimonies of courage, reminding us that even in adversity, beauty and light persist. When you look at his portraits, you don't just see faces: you feel the strength of those who go forward, despite everything.

The exhibition by Moses Mous, entitled HUMAN RESTORATION, presents a gallery of portraits of the inhabitants of his neighbourhood in the heart of the city of Maroua.   Using sgraffito, he literally sculpts existence onto canvas, scratching away at the material as if to reveal the profound essence of the human being. His warm colours and bold textures don't just represent, they celebrate. His characters, often from modest backgrounds, carry in their eyes an intensity that speaks of struggle, but above all of rebirth. Residents of Yaoundé were able to discover this exhibition at the ABALI GALLERY from 18 October 2024 to 22 November 2024.

As they wander around, visitors come across the street urchin whose eyes are lit up by a simple lollipop, the repentant former bandit who still bears the scars of his mistakes, but whose eyes shine with the promise of redemption. He captures the elegant nonchalance of the dandy, whose proud hat conceals a profound solitude. The haughty bearing of the free woman in a traditional environment, revealing the straps of her dress defying the heavy gaze; and the Koranic pupil, bending under the weight of judgement, haunted by the amalgam that is made of him. And finally, the apotheosis of a journey of resilience, the wadjo, as the people of northern Cameroon are commonly called, the beautiful Marie-Noëlle Graobe, the famous ebony model who has walked the catwalk for the greatest fashion designers such as Jean-Paul Gautier and Louis Vuitton. The portrait, entitled WADJO SUPERSTAR, is on show at the Artsy gallery in New York.

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