Baba Wagué Diakité

Two days only: Sat. July 31^st & Sun. Aug 1^st, 10:30 - 4:00

Through images & readings, Portland-based Baba Wagué will introduce us to his homeland in Mali and his inspirational children's books.

Interested in enhancing understanding and respect between people, Wagué and his wife, sculptor Ronna Neuenschwander, founded the Ko-Falen Cultural Center in Bamako, Mali. The non-profit center promotes cultural, artistic, and educational exchanges between the people of the United States and Mali through art workshops, dance, music, and ceremony.

Baba Wagué Diakité was born in Mali, West Africa, and moved to the United States in 1985. His numerous solo exhibitions of hand-painted ceramics have received high acclaim both here and abroad, and he has long delighted children with his award winning books and storytelling in schools all over the northwestern United States.

"Every human, regardless of race or culture, is a leaf from one giant tree," Wagué explains.

While he was growing up, Wagué's grandmother would tell stories in the dark of night that seemed so real, he felt as though he was one of the elements in the story. "It truly made me see trees speak, shrubs move - dogs, elephants, logs, rocks, water, dirt, sun, moon, stars- all moving and speaking like humans. Even after my Western education in a French school, my basic understanding of life is still from this traditional education of mankind that my grandparents taught me again and again."

Wagué lives with his wife and their two daughters in Portland, Oregon.

The weekend event continues at the Rogue Gallery & Art Center
40 N. Bartlett, Medford
Sunday evening from 7:00 - 8:30pm