My Friend, MOMAR KHARY DIAGNE

Momar and I were staff members in the Peace Corps training program for teachers for West Africa at Dartmouth College during the summer of 1965. Momar was a student at Northwestern University. We enjoyed each other’s company. Late that year or early in 1966 when I was passing through Chicago we met at a dinner party held in the home of Robert (Bob) Wieczorowski, a business man that I had met in March, 1965, at the first national conference of returned Peace Corps volunteers in Washington, D.C. Momar and I became good friends with Bob Wieczorowski. During the summer of 1966 Momar and I continued working with the same Peace Corps training program for West Africa. The summer 1966 portion of the program was held at the Collège de Ste. Anne de la Pocatière in Quebec. Following these two summer Peace Corps training programs, Momar and I continued our friendship through letters, phone calls and occasional visits with each other in Senegal and in the United States. In April, 1988, I returned to Senegal for the first time to visit Momar and his family and the family in Sedhiou with whom I lived as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1963-1964. I stayed with Momar and Marième for more than a week and got to know their children. It was a memorable visit for me. 

Momar had an uncanny ability to communicate deeply with people, even with people that one would say he hardly knew. I have often said that Momar is a person who could be placed in a group of complete strangers in a distant unknown land, and in five minutes, he would understand their mentality and what is important to say. 

Though distance separated our visits together by months and sometimes by years, we were very close in spirit. I will greatly miss my good friend, Momar Khary Diagne.

I believe this is from 1988 but not positive.

I took this photo as Momar was reminiscing with the noted journalist, cineast, Ben Diogaye Beye in January, 2015.

2007

Momar was a practical person; he wrote, “pragmatic approaches must prevail.” His words echo my favorite professor who frequently implored the class, “you must be pragmatic.” Indeed, a little more pragmatism would surely help us all to find and stay on the right path.

Janet's 25th Crossing Cultures Senegal program in January, 2019

What a wonderful year 2019 was! Our 25th Crossing Cultures Senegal Program (Intercultural Dimensions) and our 25th Wedding Anniversary. The Crossing Cultures Senegal program was a tremendous success. Special interests of the participants we programmed included the care and raising of bees, production of honey products, special educational needs of children, the Muslim religion, hospital radiology equipment, and experimental gardens. Participants helped in the making of cakes in the solar oven and preparing rice. We enjoyed the Mandinka language lessons, meeting current Peace Corps volunteers and visiting the village where solar lanterns had been distributed by Solar Empowerment Initiative, Inc. (an NGO with which John is involved). We are planning the 26th program for January, 2021. see www.interculturaldimensions.org.

Janet at the Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar.

 Discover Senegal with the 24th Crossing Cultures Senegal Program of 

Intercultural Dimensions, January 2017

Experience the real story of Senegal.  Intercultural Dimensions, Inc. offers a unique and stimulating travel and educational program focused on the Republic of Senegal, West Africa.

Led by two former U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, this is a well-established cultural immersion opportunity.  Participants experience family life and community projects in rural areas of this diverse nation. The Crossing Cultures Senegal group (three leaders and three to five participants) is small, allowing the leaders to tailor activities to the participants'  interests in areas such as dance and music training, teaching, literature, drumming, community action, environment, medicine, government, NGOs, agriculture, small business, language, politics, medicine and health.  

  

The $1431 fee is at cost. The leaders receive no compensation and pay for their own airfare and program fee. Extended stays for volunteer work or field study can be facilitated. This program is an eye-opener. For some it can be a stepping stone to their future; for others it can be an enrichment of the work they are already doing. Some have said this is a life-changing experience. Start now to plan and apply early. 

Please visit ID's website for more information and to apply:  www.interculturaldimensions.org or or call the leaders at 617 864 8442.

 Intercultural Dimensions, Inc. is a non profit 501 (C)(3) organization.

Janet Ghattas and John Hand

a few favorite sunsets and sunrise shots

Sunset near Arches National Park, Utah

Sunset at Beirut 

Sunset, Georgetown, Maine

Sunrise over the Casamance River, Sedhiou, Senegal

Sunset at Sedhiou

Sunset on Boulder Mountain, Utah

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Sunset at Temento Samba, Kolda, Senegal

Garden at the Thiaroye Lycée

This beautiful, productive garden at the high school in Thiaroye, Senegal, was empty space behind the school, when my late, close friend Bill Griff decided to collaborate with the former principal of the school, Abdou Salam Deme to create a school garden.  Now, a couple of years later, with the hard work of the students and staff and the support of the municipality, the new school principal El Hadji Sao and Peace Corps Volunteers David Vaughn and Danny White, the garden is flourishing and greatly productive.

Markets in Senegal

                                                         Traditional Weaving at Kaolack

Dancing in Senegal

Sobo Badé-l'Engouement continued

Above: Courtyard, Sobo Badé, a drawing by Michael Pease of Eugene, Oregon
Below: Alioune Diedhiou and Fatou Dièmé

 Batik Lesson at Sobo Badé

 Drumming lesson at Sobo Badé

The Kankouran in the Casamance

The Kankouran seen parading about in front of the Diedhiou family's compound in Sedhiou 

The Kankouran plays a role in the initiation of young men in the Mindinka culture. The costume is made from a tree having an interior, deep red, fibrous bark.

Boubacar showing us the bark from which the Kankouran's costume is made.

Two Roads In Senegal

January 2013 Amazing new highway near Dakar contrasts with the road in the  Casamance from Kolda east towards Velingara and Tambacounda.

Intercultural Dimensions-- Crossing Cultures Senegal

vegetables from the garden at Diedhiou-counda

Peanut fields

Dancing at a wedding

 Fields at Temento Samba

 Solar energy at Temento Samba

 Cooking for Company at Temento Samba