This week, our mic and lens are aimed at Harlem in New York City, by way of Dakar, Senegal. Artist, designer, and experiential creator, Fallou Wadje, whose practice spans mural work, set and scene decoration, tapestry, art installation, fashion and wardrobe styling, digital art, illustration, and full-scale event design shares how the streets of New York found her as a muse and vice versa. Her creative identity is rooted in Baayfall, a spiritual and cultural lineage of self-discovery and elevation passed down from her great-grandfather, Maam Cheikh Ibrahima Fall and it shows up in her work as vibrant, healing-driven visual storytelling.

After moving to the U.S. in 2013 to pursue a graduate studies in finance, Fallou chose to heed her inner voice, which she believes is the guiding spirit of her ancestors. This calling led her to embrace her passion for art and fashion, inspiring her to create a beautiful language of expression through her work.

Her artistic vision manifests in everything she touches, transforming everyday experiences into art. Starting her journey as a street vendor with one table, she has grown her business to include six tables and operated her first storefront on 125th street in Harlem, where she sells custom hats, prints, airbrushed shirts, and African accessories.

The pandemic forced her to close her storefront and redesigned her home to a art studio of creativity and receiving clients until 2025. This week, Fallou's new creative space, Kawsara (Source of Greatness), will host its first open house showcasing both her studio and a welcoming environment for those interested in her art. As a talented fashion designer and Harlem artist, continues to bridge the physical with the otherworldly through her unforgettable works. Check out our tour of her studio on YouTube in the coming weeks!

Where to find Fallou?
At her Kasarwa Open House Saturday, November 7th
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On Artsy
On Facebook

What’s Fallou reading?
The Prophet Moses

What’s Fallou listening to?
Isaia Huron

Other topics of interest:
Senegal, the land of Teranga
What’s an Outdooring in Ghana?
More about Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill in New York City
About Amadou Bamba, founder of the Mouride brotherhood
About Fallou’s great grand-father, Maam Cheikh Ibrahima Fall
Jordan Casteel’s The BaayFalls on the High Line
When is World Children’s Day
About Iesha Sekou and Street Corner Resources

Special Guest: Fallou Wadje.

This week’s guest is a dynamic activist that I had the pleasure of working with while distributing a documentary (see other topics of interest) featuring the work that has become his origin story in the world of Pan-African development. Hamzat “Hamzy!” Lawal is a global citizen, community organizer, an award-winning advocate and humanitarian who has successfully led grassroots campaigns in over 40 African countries. He specializes in practical issues associated with climate change, open data, advocacy and development policies affecting rural and deprived communities. He is the Founder of Follow The Money, a home-grown, Pan-African grassroots, data-driven initiative currently in 10 African countries. As the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE), an organization he also founded, CODE won the ONE Africa 2016 Award recognizing, rewards, and advances the exceptional work of African organizations; dedicated to helping the continent achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

When he is not social entrpreneuring, Hamzy sits on the Executive Board of the largest Youth Movement in Africa: African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC), and has joined his voice on different platforms and policy influencing coalitions across Africa such as the Not Too Young To Run movement which drives youth political inclusion. And also serves as an Education Champion with the Malala Fund, organization working for a world where all girls can learn for 12 years and lead without fear.

This is definitely a listening and learning opportunity with wonderful insights into the work of empowering the youth that are poised to lead the Continent.

Where to find Hamzy?
On LinkedIn
On Facebook
On Instagram

What’s Hamzy reading?
Love Does not Win Elections by Glocal Citizen Ayisha Osori

Other topics of interest:
The documentary that started it all Perspective
About Kogi State, Nigeria and the Ebira people
About #SaveBagega
Another side of Bauchi State

Special Guest: Hamzat Lawal.

Over the week/weekend just passed, the world recognized International Women’s Day as well as Ghana’s 68th Independence Day. Both happenings inspire thoughts, reflections, and movement in my heart and mind especially as I, we sit in constant review of the world we are making, remaking and re-imagining for our now. My conversation this week, in our continued March Herstories Month series is with British-Ghanaian, Elvina Quaison, is with a diasporan working intently with and within communities engaged in this re-imagining. She's now based back in the London after relocating to Brussels since our last conversation. In her time in the EU hub, she supported diaspora and government representatives as Diaspora Engagement Specialist for the EU Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF), a pilot project funded by the European Commission and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). Elvina recently took on the role of CEO with Shabaka, a values-driven consulting and research organization focused on diaspora and migrants' humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery. She has worked in the international development field, with a focus on African diaspora, for over 20 years; her experience spans diaspora engagement in humanitarianism, development, private and public sector as well as within civil society. She specializes in diaspora and private sector investment with a focus on the utilization of diaspora investment to enhance economic growth in countries of heritage and residence. Our conversation is a wonderful flash forward offering a hopeful persective on how #dynamicdiasporans are engaging with the concept and a #borderlessmindset, and #manifestinganewworld.

Where to find Elvina?
On LinkedIn
On Instagram

What’s Elvina reading?
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Other topics of interest:
Notes on serving on boards
On Belgium’s Human Zoo
Brussel’s AfricaMuseum
On the brutality of Belgium’s King Leopold
On Onyekachi Wambu
A conversation with Sophia Stewart, creator of The Terminator and The Matrix
Shifters Play UK
About Supacell

Special Guest: Elivina Quaison.

Coupling the training, experience and information Sarah has gained as a researcher with her experiences as a practitioner are key for effectiveness in her field which facilitates her ability to consult with organizations and offer presentations on anti-trafficking measures and working with/caring for survivors of human trafficking with a focus on Nigerian women. Fun fact, Sarah's education, curiosity and work have taken her to over 40 countries on five continents.

This March, Sarah will become a published author with her first book, Nigerian and Ghanaian Women Working in the Brussels Red-Light District. Get your copy today!

Where to find Sarah?
www.sarahadeyinka.com
www.cocreatengo.org
On LinkedIn
On Twitter
On Instagram

What's Sarah watching?
The Mentalist

Other topics of interest:
Child Move Project
Médecins Sans Frontières
Tongan for Beginners

Special Guest: Sarah Adeyinka.

Coupling the training, experience and information Sarah has gained as a researcher with her experiences as a practitioner are key for effectiveness in her field which facilitates her ability to consult with organizations and offer presentations on anti-trafficking measures and working with/caring for survivors of human trafficking with a focus on Nigerian women. Fun fact, Sarah's education, curiosity and work have taken her to over 40 countries on five continents.

This March, Sarah will become a published author with her first book, Nigerian and Ghanaian Women Working in the Brussels Red-Light District. Get your copy today!

Where to find Sarah?
www.sarahadeyinka.com
www.cocreatengo.org
On LinkedIn
On Twitter
On Instagram

What's Sarah watching?
The Mentalist

Other topics of interest:
Child Move Project
Médecins Sans Frontières
Tongan for Beginners

Special Guest: Sarah Adeyinka.