Ko-Falen Cultural Center

Ko-Falen Cultural Center, located in Bamako, Mali is the inspiration of Baba Wagué Diakité, a Malian artist and writer now living in Portland, Oregon. It has been his dream to share the culture of his homeland with the people of his adopted home.

In Bambara, the word ko-falen means “gift exchange.” Ko-Falen Cultural Center seeks to promote cultural, artistic and educational exchanges between the people of the United States and Mali through art workshops, dance, music and ceremony. We believe that a greater understanding and respect between people can be reached through these personal exchanges.

KO-FALEN WORKSHOPS...We want to share with you news of our successful programs in our first year of operation!

The Art Workshops at the Center were a rousing success. Four 2-week long workshops were offered in Textile Dyeing, Calabash Engraving, Basket Weaving and Recycled Tin Sculpture Fabricating. We also offered a short 3-day introduction to the unique creation of bogolanfini (mudcloth). In the future, we will add Pottery Making, Weaving, Glass Painting, and Drumming/Dancing to these offerings.

We used the mango grove adjacent to the Center to great advantage. Working outdoors on our projects gave a natural invitation to the neighbors and passers-by to join in. We continued our valued relationships with the neighborhood blacksmith, griots, musicians and dancers.

The Ko-Falen Cultural Center was inaugurated on New Year’s Eve 2007. Terrence McCulley, US Ambassador to Mali, along with his family and staff joined 32 American participants and Boulkassoumbougou neighbors to celebrate this convergence of knowledge, talents and cultures. Balafon music and dancing in the mango grove was followed by a feast of traditional Malian dishes prepared by neighbors, friends and the Center’s own residents. We ended the day with a fashion show of traditional costumes, using our Center’s long veranda as the fashion runway.

New Year’s Day we gathered early for a daylong journey to the village of Soni Tieni where we joined in more dancing and drumming. Later, we made a procession to the dougoutigi’s home to present the village with a contribution to help fund a potable water well for the town and the school. We concluded the day with a spellbinding masked dance ceremony performed in our honor.

The successes and accomplishments we have experienced are due to the generous contributions of friends and supporters. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and to encourage you to participate in the Center’s programs and activities in the U.S and Mali. We welcome your continuing support.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WORKSHOPS AND DATES:
email us at info@ko-falen.org
mail us at 1424 SE Oak, Portland, OR 97214

Baba Wague Diakite
Founder and Executive Director