I was born in Senegal, in a town called Medina 11 km from Dahra-Djoloff, on June 29, 1977. After 3 months my parents moved to Fouta and I lived there until I was 7 years old. At that age my parents sent me to Kaolack to live to a daara as a talibé. It was 8 years of a very hard life, to go out every day to the street to beg knowing that I would be punished if I didn’t fulfill the orders of the marabout. At the age of 15 I was able to escape and return to the village of my parents, who had separated, my mother Fati Ndiaye was living in another village. Working in agriculture I was able to gather some money to go visit my mother, it was after 3 years until I could see her again. My mother was pregnant and my sister Rocgea was born 3 months after I arrived. Unfortunately my mother passed away 6 months later. This painting tells this story, my mother lies face down on the horizon and looks at my father who is on the other side of the river and waiting under the crown of the spirits. The egg represents hope, which is protected by the hand of Fatima, the protective spirit, is the hope of seeing my family again after 20 years away.
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