Save Fallou's Studio and Residence on Goree Island

Fallou lives on Goree Island, the historic hub of the African slave trade just off the coast of Senegal. He and his creative community present art as a pathway to peace, healing, and humanity to all who visit. He is a painter, community leader, musician, environmental activist, teacher, and more. He is among the traditional residents of this island and a long-standing representative of his community. He leases a small studio space where he presents his work, and with the income he earns from it, he pays his lease and covers expenses. But due to the restrictions with COVID-19, his ability to earn income has for the most part vanished. He has gone as far as he can without reaching out for help, but now needs our help to avoid losing the lease on his studio and residence on this sacred island.

This campaign is to raise emergency funds to secure his space and get caught up. Can you please contribute (even just $10-$20)? My first visit to Goree Island was 20 years ago. It has become more and more commercial throughout the years, with new boutique luxury hotels and vendors who don’t live there. Fallou has lived his whole life on Goree, where his mother and grandmother were born. His creative community remains the soul of the island, the keepers of history, the spiritual liaisons for all who take the journey. If they are gone, they will be replaced by commercial versions.

Thus this is an extraordinary opportunity to contribute a token of justice toward this deeply significant place in our histories. Please contribute what you can as soon as possible. Travel destinations seem to be opening slowly, so hopefully Fallou will soon re-stabilize his long-standing micro-business and greet guests and tourists once again with his Goree Island roots and unforgettable message of peace. It is also noteworthy that Fallou doesn't have ambitions to leave Africa to pursue better "opportunities' in the US or Europe. He is passionate about his homeland and welcoming others to its greatness. Maybe he can welcome you someday? 

All art posted here is by Fallou. Fallou’s Instagram is a great way to get to know more about him. Find him @fallougoree. Feel free to post comments and words of encouragement for him here. (he's good at Google translate :-). It will be so valuable for him to know there are people in America and around the world who care about his life's work and this monumental place. Thank you for your compassion and generosity.