Reporting

“New Multiculturalism”, for better visibility of Senegal in the United States

From February 10 to April 21, the famous African Center in New York is hosting the “New Multiculturalism” exhibition by Senegalese artist and photographer Assane Gaye and his friend Mamadou “Mo” Dramé.

Aiming at better visibility of Senegalese culture and French-speaking West Africa on this side of the Atlantic, the duo offers an exhibition of their works on the country's cultural movements and the impact, the mixture of those - this with American culture, with an emphasis on photography and fashion.

Mamadou Mo Dramé and Assane Gaye at the African Center in New York.

© Michael Oliveira Da Costa / RFI

By: Michaël Oliveira Da Costa Follow

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From our correspondent in New York

,

The evenings are cold in February, but the heat is there in the city's largest cultural space dedicated to African artists, the African Center, located south of Harlem.

The outfits of the many people who came for the opening of the

New Multiculturalism

exhibition  by Senegalese Assane Gaye and Mamadou Dramé pay a perfect homage to the African continent, combined with touches influenced by American fashion, wide pants and

old school

sneakers .

All smiles while shaking hands, kissing dozens of curious people and friends who came for the occasion, the artist Assane Gaye does not hide his pride at seeing that his work attracts people.

“

This is one of the goals of our exhibition, to show our vision of Senegalese culture, but also to explain, to exchange with those who want to know more about it, through art .

It’s the chosen mode of expression, photography, it’s accessible, it’s something that everyone can understand and interpret

,” explains the young Senegalese.

Arriving in the United States five years ago for higher studies after a stint at Cheick Anta Diop University in Dakar, Gaye had an encounter that changed his destiny.

“

I was taking photos as an amateur and one day, someone asked me if she could take a look at my photos: she told me to give it a try, because she saw talent in me and that's it. is what I did!

 » he remembers again, all smiles.

Now a professional videographer and photographer, Gaye still works with his Senegal at heart, and teamed up with his friend Mamadou “Mo” Dramé, son of Senegalese immigrants in the United States, to put together this exhibition which attracts very many visitors since its opening ten days ago.

“

The goal is clear: we grew up in Africa, we are proud to be Senegalese and we want our culture, the expressions of our culture to be more visible in the public space, and that we are also recognized as part of integral part of American society,

 ” explains Gaye.

Very moved and satisfied with the work done to make their entry into the African Center, one of the most popular cultural places for African artists in the United States, Gaye's friend, Mamadou “Mo” Dramé, believes that “

the "the initiative is important for the recognition of our Senegalese identity, in a country which does not promote minorities enough, especially African and even more French-speaking ones

 ", he specifies, adding that "

through this type of exhibition, we show that "We are here, we are proud to be Senegalese and we retain our identity, by mixing some aspects of American culture which are also part of our daily life

." 

Making the Senegalese presence and influence felt in the United States through art 

With more than 30 photographic pieces exhibited, and amateur models chosen through encounters in the African artistic universe of New York, the work of Gaye and Dramé is appreciated by the more than a hundred people present for the opening evening, all curious about a Senegalese culture which is still trying to find a place for itself in the multicultural universe of Uncle Sam's country. "

It is not always easy to be able to be seen, but above all to make oneself known in the American society, but the exhibition is a further step towards better recognition of what is being done in this part of the world, and that Senegal and its cultures have beautiful stories and impact young people, and not just the diaspora present here

 », underlines Burkinabè Farima Koné Kito, who produces and supervises the exhibition.

Despite a significant diaspora of more than 700,000 people on this side of the Atlantic, Senegal nevertheless remains far behind the English-speaking behemoths of Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana, which monopolize almost all related artistic events. to Africa on the American cultural panorama.

“

Having a window of visibility is very important.

We want art and its expressions to be a possibility for the Senegalese diaspora, but also for those from West Africa, that their identity, their history and their presence are better known,”

 specifies Kito, adding that “

by This exhibition, we want to bring a discussion, a reflection on the question of identity, and on the way in which young people question this.

We are African, we are also steeped in American culture, but our roots are in West Africa.

Recognition of identity and ways of expressing it in our daily lives is extremely important for individual development

.” 

For Khady, a native of Thiès who arrived in New York three years ago to study sociology at Columbia University, this type of initiative marks an evolution and must be more frequent.

“

I am happy to see that Senegal is now entering a little more into arts centers like the African Center, and we must continue the momentum, supporting the initiatives of artists like Assane Gaye and Mo,

 ” she explains. -She.

“

I think the next step would be to move out of the big cities and bring Senegal-related cultural events across the United States

 .”

For Gaye, the exhibition is a step towards something even bigger: “

 We have had great feedback on New Multiculturalism, and we are already working on the next exhibitions.

We want to continue to make Senegal known, but also to recognize our identity as an African, as a young member of the diaspora who also appropriates many aspects of American culture while being proud and happy to show and make known 'where he comes from

' he concludes. 

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