nyala bull | oil on board

This oil painting captures the striking elegance of a Nyala bull — one of Africa’s most beautifully marked antelope. His rich, chocolate-brown coat is accentuated by bold white stripes, delicate spots, and a dramatic mane that runs down his spine. The sweeping spiral horns and contrasting facial markings give him a regal, almost mythical presence as he steps through the dappled sunlight of the thicket. Male Nyala rarely fight outright; instead, they engage in an extraordinary dominance display often called the slow walk or dance. In this ritual, bulls puff up their manes, lift their tails, and move in exaggerated, high-stepping strides, trying to appear larger and more impressive. This visual contest usually determines hierarchy without physical aggression — a graceful negotiation of power in the wild.