"Despite setbacks, the future always holds something good"
Kader, a graduate of the National Institute of Arts in Bamako, is a talented and well know Malian artist specializing in 'Bogolan', an ancient and traditional Malian art form that uses mud from the Niger to dye and treat fabric. He has worked in Mali and all over Europe, including a residency at the prestigious British Museum in London. Kader is an exceptional man of quiet dignity, deep compassion and great inner strength; despite a childhood battle with Polio that left his legs weakened, he exclaims, "I am not handicapped either in mind or heart and I am grateful for having been brought up in Bamako, the Capital of Mali, where people with physical disabilities live with their families and are not considered a burden."
Beleiving that artists play a significant role in the development of society, Kader works principally with children who live on the streets in Bamako, the capital of Mali, providing both art lessons and shelter. He has been committed to working with disadvantaged children for many years, and officially set up the Mali Association of Culture and Hope in October 2004 with authorization by the Malian Ministry of the Interior.
Awa, Kader's wife, assists with the workshops, and with her cousin Amy cooks hot meals for the children. On weekends, lots of children turn up at the Association building for food, and Kader and Awa always do their best to feed them. Kader and his family have helped over 500 children in Bamako and hope to continue their work for years to come.
