CHILDREN & MAMADOU YAFFA
Aicha Guerma tells me, “I would like to be a butterfly.”
Elle me dit. “J’aimerais être un papillon.”
When she jumped onto the other wall, I was so scared! And she told me she wanted to fly! I’m trying to find her after so many years, to show her the picture.
Cartier-Bresson’s favorite photograph from this series.
Brother and sister.
Children finding an insect with blue wings.
Malikah, a dear friend.
Mamadou, head of the football team with a bottle of Evian
The boy on the right side with white short Ladji Toure call me and ask me if I could find his mother photography, but after 43 years it’s hard to remember, I am still searching.
The first two images show Habibou and Mamadou with Assa Traore.
Francois Gautret putting my photo of Mamadou around Place des Vosges.
Mamadou Yaffa led two exhibitions of my work, in 2018 and in 2020, one at the center of culture and another at the park in La Goutte d’Or. The image to the right shows Mamadou and Habibou, his brother, hanging some of my photography at the park. I was so very scared of the risks they took in doing so. The reactions of the people at the park were wonderful and made me so happy. Thanks to Mamadou and Habibou. The posters being held were made, paid, and exhibited in a show of posters by the Gallery[s] Mortier. We put many posters throughout La Goutte d’Or, assisted by the two assistants of Mamadou.
With Mamadou Yaffa on his motorcycle.
I am so thankful to Abibou Yaffa who took so much risk climbing and thanks to friends that helps. We had a lot of fun. Of course thank you to Mamadou Yaffa who decided to put photos of the exhibition in the park.
Interview by Mamadou Yaffa for the media named “ SPOT AFRIQUE “ on September 2020.
Mamadou Yaffa speech
After the city postponed this several times, they finally did it! What a victory for Mamadou Yaffa.
I am so proud of him. I wish I was there on March 10 at 10 am when it happened but couldn’t go as my passport was expired. I was with him, the Tirailleurs Sénégalais, and all the other soldiers from Africa who fought for France. This is the minimum we could do to honor those who passed away and those who remain.
December 11, 2023
Place du Président Édouard Herriot
