Tawfiqah didn’t grow up planning to be a Mandala artist. She just wanted to draw something- anything – that looked like the blooming patterns in her grandfather’s old Islamic books. Years later, she found a name for it. Then a purpose. And then a voice.
In this Hijabelle spotlight, the Ibadan-born artist and poet takes us on a calm but compelling journey: from silence to stage, from family sketches to public exhibitions. Whether she’s breaking down the difference between digital and hand-drawn Mandala or sharing what made her pick up a pen in the first place, one thing is clear: Tawfiqah’s art is heart work. And she’s only just getting started.
Let’s meet you.
I’m Tawfiqah, 21 years old, and the first of my parents’ children. I was born and raised in Ibadan, and I’ve spent my entire life here.
Interesting! I’ve a lot about your Mandala art but what exactly is it about?
Most people know Henna, but not Mandala. Some say it originated from Hindu or Buddhist traditions, where it was used to connect to the inner self. However, in the traditional sense, a Mandala is a ritual practice used to connect with one’s inner self.
While Henna is popular and cultural, Mandala is a bit more abstract. It doesn’t have a fixed meaning. It is also a geometric design, but according to history, Mandala is an ancient art form in which Buddhists and Hindu people used to find peace and balance in the symmetry of design and the universe.
But beyond the spiritual origins, Mandala is calming, and it’s used to support mental health—like how people colour Mandala books for relaxation. Mandala has this effect because of the repetition, the patience, and you can incorporate it into any part of your life. You know, sometimes you can start the Mandala and you won’t know what you are doing until you are done.
Interesting. So, it’s like you allow your creativity to lead the way?
Exactly.
Does this mean all your designs started from something small and grew into those large masterpieces?
Yes, usually. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m doing until I finish. It all unfolds in the process.
And all your designs are hand-drawn?
Yes. Every single one.
This is mind-blowing. You mentioned some people say Mandala has roots from Hinduism and Buddhism. I reckon people question you about Mandala’s origins?
Yeah, and that is why I get this question a lot – “Do you do this for spirituality?” and I am like, “Nah, I am a Muslim, what do you mean by that?”
It’s similar to how people view yoga, yea?
Yes. And I would say it is similar for every art. Even magicians use normal images that people draw, so I think every kind of art has ‘something’, but it depends on what you use for it and what you do with it.
What got you interested in Mandala in the first place?
My family’s very art-inclined. I am the Mandala artist of the family. My great-grandfather and uncle were into Islamic calligraphy and Tazheeb (Ottoman/Islamic geometry art). My mum also does a little of calligraphy, and while she doesn’t pay so much attention to it, she is still very good at the craft.
We also have artists in my family. One of my Uncle draws people too, but because it is Haram, he had to drop his interest in the craft. But he certainly is gifted and I remember he used to make cartoons of people before.
I never knew my great-grandfather was an artist until recently. I’d say it was my grandfather’s library that pulled me to Mandala. He had so many Islamic books, and you know, Islamic books always had these beautiful Tazheeb designs.
From then on, I liked Mandala from there, but I didn’t know what it was. I just knew I loved drawing flowers and the patterns I saw in my grandfather’s books. So that was what inspired me. I just kept drawing flowers and circles until I started getting used to social media, and I saw like wow, this is what I do, and this is what people call it.
I read your book, December Begins the New Year, whose title I think is really interesting. So, I’m wondering, have you always loved writing poetry as well?
You see, when I was very much younger, I had a lot of issues expressing myself. I didn’t like talking because it felt like a huge burden to me. So much that I felt that I was always going to lose every war of words. Lol. For example, every time I got into a fight with my brother, I couldn’t defend myself when we had to face our parents. He’s comfortable talking, so while he speaks his own truth, I, on the other hand, am not able to say anything. He would then go on and win the fight.
I felt I couldn’t continue that way, so I started off writing letters to my Mum. And that was where writing started from for me. Then I realized that since I didn’t like talking, I could just start writing – expressing the way I feel through words. Then it went from writing about the way I feel to writing what I think people feel and writing from my imagination.
That is why I able to write about things that don’t personally apply to me in some of my poems. For example, although I am not married, I am able to write stuff about marriage, divorce and the likes. I am able to imagine how women in abusive marriages think, and write from their point of view.
So pretty much, I started from writing letters to my mum and then to essay writing, and then sharing my views on social media. My opinions might be bit controversial, but I have a right to it and that’s all that matters. But 2018 was when I discovered and started writing poetry. I just love the form of self-expression. When you are reading poetry, you are immersed in the writer’s views and feeling the same thing the writer is feeling, and you understand what they are saying, and you don’t even have to write 6,500 words or 650 words. Just a few lines, and it conveys all the emotions.
That’s insightful. You must enjoy reading poems too then?
Absolutely. Razaq Malik Gbolahan (RMG), Alhanislam, Naseeba Babale are few of my favourite poets. I love the way they convey their words; the imagery, the expressions, the emotions, it is beautiful.
I find yours really beautiful too. Is your book available in hard copy?
Thank you! But no, no hard copies yet. However soft copies of my book are currently available for purchase.
Again, congratulations on that! But can you share with us some of your other wins so far?
The biggest achievement I had in my career was appearing on stage. Talking publicly has always been one of my biggest challenges, and that is one of the reasons I took solace in writing. So, standing in front of a crowd and talking about my Mandala and poetry, for me is the height and is a really beautiful one. And since my first public stage appearance, I have gotten a lot better and let more people know what I do, and more people buy my artwork and read my poems as a result.
Have you faced any challenges with your art at all?
I have faced quite a few. Sometimes when my sisters are with me and I want to draw, I find it difficult to focus, and it can be frustrating. It is either that they say they also want to draw and I should give them pen or paper or pencil. So, I stopped sending them away when I am drawing and started carrying them along. When they come, I just give them their pencils and papers. It actually stopped becoming a challenge after that. Hence, whenever it is time for me to draw, they just come to me, and they draw too.
The second challenge is writer’s block, and artist block. Those are the blocks you don’t want to have because it is crazy. You have everything ready, you have your paper, your pen, your compass, everything, but you can’t draw anything. And even if you try and force yourself to draw, everything will look horrible to you even if other people say it’s nice. I have had an artist block that didn’t go away for months and it is frustrating when people keep telling you they have a job for you and then you can’t make it.
Another challenge is with unfair valuations of my Mandala art. Sometimes, people just price down my work and this drives me mad. You know, a lot of Nigerians don’t really appreciate art, and I believe that art should only be sold to people that appreciate it. It takes a lot to come up with these things; sometimes it’s three days or one full week of work to complete a Mandala design and yet people ask you, “se ko gba 10, 500?” (Can’t you accept 10, 500 naira) for an asking price of 40, 000 naira! It’s unfair.
One more thing is people trying to establish a closer relationship with you just because they patronized you. I once said shared this on WhatsApp. I asked, “Why do people think you are going to be vulnerable whenever you are going to sell your artwork?”
It doesn’t matter if you are a Mandala artist, but for females generally, especially if what they sell is not something that is particular to only females but something men also want. Most of the people who purchase my Mandala art are actually men and some of them think one would just become vulnerable because one is a woman and because they are paying. Once I sense that behaviour, I just stop replying.
I am really so sorry about that. I can imagine how frustrating it is.
It really is. Thank you.
With respect to being a Muslim lady exploring this career, have you faced any criticisms?
Some people tell me that Mandala is Haram, and ask why should a Muslim woman be doing such? This is because they think it is only for the Hindus and Buddhists, but it is a lot more than that.
Indeed. So, is there a particular person into Mandala art that inspires you?
Leem Arts. She is also a Mandala artist. When I look at her art I’m always like, mehn, goals. One day, one day sha. She inspires me a lot, I learn from her and I am like, how do people even do this?
Funny that’s exactly how I felt when I saw your work. I was like, how does one even do this?!
Hehe. Interestingly, when I see her works, I wonder the same.
Let’s talk about the best advice someone has given you.
The best advice anyone has ever given me has to be to stay away from competition. Yeah, it is okay to see someone and learn from them, but stay away from competition. Stay away from trying to be someone. You can see when I was talking about Leem Arts, I was not talking about trying to be her, I was marvelling at her works instead. I was not like I want to be her someday, nope.
And another one is just put yourself out there. Don’t try to be perfect. There is no perfect art and that is the truth. An art you believe is perfect now, in the next 3-4 years may not be perfect to you anymore. The advice really worked for me because previously if I felt a particular artwork was not good enough, I never shared them. Now though, I share all of the good, the bad and the fugly. I just keep posting myself out there. I used to be very shy to talk about my Mandala before.
But I do feel like your Instagram page speaks a lot for itself with all the works you post.
Yeah, exactly. Because I don’t want to do a lot of talking. This is me. These are my artworks, and that’s all. But I am learning to talk, that was one of the reasons I decided to move out of my comfort zone and then speak at the Kwara Book and Art Festival when I got the invitation.
I actually wanted to turn it down because I was scared to face the crowd. I wanted to come up with an excuse, but one of my friends told me, “Girl, you can do it. This can really help you. You can talk about your work.” So I am learning to express myself without Mandala and writing.
More like your writing and Mandala art also helped you come out of your comfort zone?
Yes, yes, it really has.
What is the best advice you’d give someone who wants to be a Mandala artist and a writer like you?
- If you want to become a creative, first be honest with yourself. Know your true why. Be sure that you don’t want to be a creative just because someone else is and that they have a lot of followers or are getting a lot of engagements. If you start for the wrong reasons, best believe you are just going to end up frustrated, depressed, sad and bitter.
- Being a creative is hard. You may not really have a social life.
- Don’t be quick to pursue art commercialisation. Always leave room for growth and beware of quick gratification.
- Don’t compete. Competition is not really about how to wear the best stuff, how to wear the latest Abaya, shoes, bags. There is competition everywhere – among people that are materialistic and also among people who are artsy. The way people lust over other people’s material possessions is the same way other people lust over other people’s creativity. There is no difference between the two. Just be calm and be patient with your growth, and accept every phase of your growth.
- Everywhere now is tech, tech, tech. Chill, we just want to be a Mandala artist, if that’s what you want to be. Some people will make you feel like you don’t know what you are doing for sticking to hand-drawn Mandala. Few weeks ago on Facebook, people were like I should start digital Mandala and digital Mandala is nothing near hand-drawn Mandala. I don’t think it looks very original though, but I am going to learn digital Mandala anyway. You can be assured however that most of my Mandala will still be hand drawn, Biidnillah. Some people see hand-drawn Mandala as a waste of time, but I feel they don’t really understand art. Art is more than the money that comes with it; there is also a self-fulfilment side of things.
Speaking of art evolution. I’m wondering, why do you prefer hand-drawn Mandala to digital Mandala?
See, hand-drawn Mandala is like eating orange and enjoying it and Digital Mandala is also like eating orange too, but they have taken out the sweetness and everything that makes an orange, ‘orange’.
I recently went to frame my artwork for a client and met other artists. A few of them were marvelled by my art, and kept staring at it. There is this satisfaction that comes from not just seeing them but from me as an artist knowing I did this with my hand.
So don’t let people come and make you feel you don’t know what you are doing by choosing to draw Mandala with your hand. Don’t get bamboozled with the idea of hand-drawn Mandala being a waste of time or not taking advantage of technology. Hand-drawn Mandala has life; it has this beautiful vibe, this magic and digital Mandala is just so technical and weird. Digital Mandala can be used to do branding or for notebook designs, but I will take hand-drawn Mandala every day, and twice on Friday.
I am learning a lot from you about this art. Please can you share some hobbies with us?
I love memes a lot. I also love reading quite as much; just any book that is nice. I enjoy seeing good movies as well.
What else? I love cooking, trying new recipes, and the food I love cooking the most is Jollof rice. I love it. Anytime I go out to a restaurant, 90% of the time I eat Jollof. I think one of the reasons I love cooking is because I love process. I love phases, and as someone who has grown over the past years from a shy, inexpressive girl with low self-esteem that wouldn’t talk and didn’t even have any friends to a girl that’s talking to you right now, I just love the idea of growth.
I love the details you have to pay attention to while cooking Jollof, and I think it is the same with Mandala. It starts from circles. Then you draw lines, then you draw weird circles and before you know it, you have your Mandala. Sometimes, cooking itself gives me the satisfaction Mandala gives me. You know, creating something.
There’s a quiet confidence about Tawfiqah—the kind that doesn’t shout but shows up in steady strokes, delicate patterns, and words woven with care. In a world pushing speed and tech, she reminds us there’s still beauty in slow, handmade things.
You can connect with Tawfiqah and explore her work on Instagram here and subscribe to our newsletter so you’d be the first to know when we publish other stories in our Deen Queens and Hijabelles series.
