Oumou Sy & Baaba Maal photo galleries from the Day of African Culture

Oumou Sy and Papa Dia arvada center senegal fashion designer african leadership group ALG denver colorado — Oumou Sy (l) with Papa Dia; photo by Kurt Wolff

Every summer, Colorado-based nonprofit the African Leadership Group (ALG) organizes Afrik Impact, an event aimed at supporting the African immigrant population through social, educational, and economic events and programs.

This year’s celebration included a special Day of African Culture at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, centering around appearances from two major artists from Senegal (the home country of ALG founder Papa Dia).

Among the festivities were a fashion show curated by renowned Senegalese designer Oumou Sy and an outdoor concert with legendary Senegalese musician Baaba Maal and his band. Below are photo galleries from these two incredible events.

Oumou Sy’s fashion designs

The fashion show featured dozens of Oumou Sy’s designs, modeled by members of the local community (both professionals and nonprofessionals).

Oumou Sy Fashion Show

Oumou Sy, Papa Dia

Oumou Sy Fashion Show

The clothing worn during Oumou Sy’s fashion show is on exhibit at the Arvada Center through the end of August.

Baaba Maal concert

The evening concert with Baaba Maal (and opening act Fata, also from Senegal) went from a sit-down, low-key acoustic show to a full-blown dance party, complete with more than a dozen bandmembers and people from the audience – most members of Colorado African immigrant communities – taking the stage (with permission) to dance in the spotlight and shower the band with praise, a few hugs, and tips in the form of many, many U.S. dollar bills.