It is a beautiful work that pays homage to the Senegalese capital and its abundant culture. Dakar nest of artists, or how 100 artists share their view of the city and their emotions. An emotional journey through the eyes of the bubbling contemporary cultural scene: designers, slam artists, photographers…
With our correspondent in Dakar, Juliet Dubois
One hundred artists from Dakar present their city in this book. Everyone chose a word to define it and wrote a short text to tell what it inspires in them. The Moroccan publishing house Malika, at the origin of this project, had started by Casablanca nest of artists. Dakar is the second destination.
I am moved and happy to announce the release of “Dakar, nest of artists” this December 22, 2022.
2 and a half years of work. 100 guest artists (a BREATHTAKING list).❤️
Now it’s yours friends.?
Exit in Dakar on December 22.
Amazon, Fnac: January 2023 pic.twitter.com/PWRP7N4ih9— Aisha Deme (@DemeAisha) November 23, 2022
The publisher Malika Slaoui contacted Aïsha Dème, a cultural entrepreneur and ultra-connected to the city’s artists, to bring together talents and give them a voice. ” I always say: ‘Dakar, my love’. On social networks, I’m known for that, I came into culture by making a platform dedicated to Dakar, so absolutely : Dakar is in our DNA ! exclaims Aïsha Dème.
” Extraordinary energies »
For the entrepreneur, the Senegalese capital is ” a crossroads, not only of cultures, but of all nationalities, people come from everywhere “. In this book, ” everyone brings a lookshe explains. You will know where Youssou N’Dour likes to eat, for example, that, I think is huge. It’s fascinating to chat with Ken Bugul, it’s fascinating to see the Dakar from Mbougar Sarrit’s fascinating to see the Dakar of the young slammer from the suburbs, to see the difference between the two “.
That’s what’s beautiful about this book: everyone brings a perspective, and we see, in everyone, this attachment to the city.
Aïsha Dème on the book “Dakar nest of artists”
The singer and musician Kya Loum, nicknamed “The child of Gueule Tapée”, came to play her beautiful Afro blues songs for the launch of the book. She also participates in the project, and it is the word “vibration” that she has chosen to define Dakar: ” Quite simply, everything vibrates. These are extraordinary energies that we have here. The rhythms, the noises, that inspires me enormously. Unfortunately, these are not always positive things. The kids I see on the streets, the Talibés, inspired me to write a song or two, by the way.. »
A cosmopolitan world-city
The photograph Matar Ndour has been traveling the city for nearly 40 years with its lenses. When he has a breakdown of inspiration, Dakar always saves him: ” just get out ! Dakar, with its colours… Dakar, with its congestion… and that’s what makes the city so charming. Dakar which suffocates. My favorite places are markets, public squares, concerts. You just have to know how to observe beauty. »
Several of Matar Ndour’s photos illustrate Dakar artist’s nest. You can see its beaches or its market stalls. And to define Dakar, the city where all of Senegal and West Africa intersect, he chose the word “cosmopolitan”.