"People are more important than things", Koyo Kouoh✨
RAW Material Company is honored to invite you to a day dedicated to the life and extraordinary work of our beloved Koyo, on June 14th in Dakar.
Surrounded by her family, friends, collaborators, and her many amazons, we will pay tribute to Koyo in a way that truly reflects her. Koyo loved life, she knew how to celebrate it with both grace and power. So, in her honor, we will make this day unforgettable.
We will gather in communion under the mango tree, calling forth a variety of sensitive expressions and artistic practices: invocations, conversations, music, poetry, testimonies, performances, readings, and a film screening.
There will be tears, of course, sadness is inevitable. But there will also be laughter, warmth, stories shared around a bowl of thieb, and meaningful moments of reflection.
We will share her vision of a future where people are at the center of all things, where care and relational ethics prevail over productivity and ego. A world where strength is rooted in the collective, in love, generosity, and mutual support. We will revisit the founding of RAW, and look ahead to the future of this institution she created 17 years ago, a place built on the belief that we must move forward together to shape the world we wish to live in. We will speak of the years to come, of yet another moment of transition, and how we hope to approach it.
That is why we ask for your presence.
To be here, to make the journey, to answer the call. Whether you're at the end of the "rue sans soleil" or thousands of kilometers away, you are warmly welcome among us.
Program
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#Practical Informations
This celebration of Koyo is open to all, provided places are available.
For our colleagues, friends, and loved ones coming from abroad, we kindly invite you to arrange your travel and accommodation in Senegal. Of course, we remain at your disposal to assist you with coordinating these preparations, if needed.
To all those who won’t be able to join us, feel free to write to us at info@rawmaterialcompany.org to share your contributions, in whatever form suits you best. Your voices matter, even from afar.
If you wish to contribute:
Marie Helene Pereira: mariehelene@rawmaterialcompany.org
Fatima Bintou Rassoul Sy: lecture@rawmaterialcompany.org
If you wish to make the trip:
Mame-Farma Fall: admin@rawmaterialcompany.org
If you wish to spread the word:
Kerry Etola Viderot: communication@rawmaterialcompany.org
Download the welcome kit memorial here
*** Pictures taken by Trevor Stuurman