HEALING
Connecting Threads of Traditional Wisdom
An Artistic Exploration of the Role of Indigenous Spirituality in Native American and Senegalese cultures toward healing our world
Dakar, Senegal, West Africa
November 29, 2025 - January 31, 2026
HEALING: Connecting Threads of Traditional Wisdom, is a celebration of the spiritual ties that unite peoples, cultures and histories. Through the art and indigenous spirituality of Jim Yellowhawk, a Lakota Sioux artist from the USA, and Baye Ndiaga Diouf, a Senegalese artist deeply rooted in both African traditional spirituality and his Sufi (Mouride brotherhood) Muslim faith, this unique artistic encounter offers profound reflections on the dialogue between traditional spiritual expressions and their associated cultural identities and histories.
Resonating with the philosophy of the noted Senegalese philosopher Souleymane Bachir Diagne, who calls for reinventing a “universal enriched by all particulars” and celebrating “the affirmation of the world’s plurality,” this exhibition charts a new path. Here, the universal is not a uniform abstraction but a living space enriched by the diversity of cultures. This unprecedented dialogue between Senegalese and Native American artists marks a historic event, revealing the richness of two worlds often perceived as distant but united by shared worldviews, histories and hopes.
At a time when the rise of individualism, cultural isolation, and tribalism threaten to tear apart the fabric of global society, HEALING: Connecting Threads of Traditional Wisdom arrives as a powerful reminder of the need for connection, understanding, and mutual respect, offering an antidote by exploring how art can transcend divisions and unite us in a shared humanity.
The 31 works, some which result from this artistic collaboration, and are being exhibited to illustrate how art serves as a spiritual bridge between histories, a balm for wounds, and a call to universal connection. Jim Yellowhawk, inspired by Lakota spiritual teachings, and Baye Ndiaga Diouf, reflecting ancestral African rituals and Mouride Sufism, take viewers on a journey blending the spiritual and the material world. Their works demonstrate the healing and unifying power of art.
The exhibition follows a three-week residency in Dakar for Native American Lakota artist Jim Yellowhawk. The residency, based at the Hotel Le Djoloff, included opportunities for collaboration with Senegalese artist Baye Ndiaga Diouf, and immersion experiences into Senegalese culture the local art scene.
Co-curated by Rémy Mallet, founder of DakArtNews and Paul G. Chandler, president of CARAVAN Arts, HEALING: Connecting Threads of Traditional Wisdom reaffirms the power of art - to connect us to ourselves, to others, and to what transcends us. More than an artistic collaboration, it is a call to honor our diversities and unite in our shared humanity.
The exhibition is part of the 14th edition of Partcours, as part of the JOKKO initiative (meaning "connection" in Wolof language of Senegal), the most important art event after the Dakar Art Biennale.
ARTISTS
Whispers of Wisdom
"This series was born from a living memory, one that moves between the traditions of my family and the spiritual inheritances. My grandfather, whose name I bear, was a traditional healer. As a child, I watched him — and my uncles — treat the sick through written charms, plants, or rituals meant to ward off evil spirits. Later, I recognized these signs in Sufi practices, in the 99 names of God, sometimes linked to trees and numbers. These works are nourished by that ancient language — made of symbols, whispers, and wisdoms that are Serer, Muslim, and universal. They are fragments of a living philosophy, passed down by elders, sages, mediums, and healers."
- Baye Ndiaga Diouf
COLLABORATIVE ARTWORK
Jim Yellowhawk / Baye Ndiaga Diouf (Collaborative Work)
Life Is a Circle / Victory of the Wise, 2025
Acrylic, Kola, Touba coffee powder, and pastel on canvas, 59 × 39 in (150 × 100 cm)
Artist Statements:
Jim Yellowhawk
"I believe that we are born as stars and that we return to the stars. When we cross from North to South, we follow the Star Path — the Milky Way. The red hand represents myself, carrying a star within it. The dragonfly holds a special spiritual meaning for me; it is also a messenger to the stars. The sun symbolizes Life, for without it there would be no life. The four rawhide medicine wheels represent the four directions — West (Black), North (Red), East (Yellow), and South (White). These colors appear in the four triangles at the bottom, evoking He Sapa, the Black Hills, where I live. I also rubbed earth from Senegal into the background to anchor the work in this moment of my life. It is a gesture that expresses both presence and gratitude."
Baye Ndiaga Diouf:
"This artwork speaks of a luminous encounter — one deeply charged with energy, intuition, and clarity. It symbolizes the moment when one reaches their own inner light, beyond all appearances. The collaboration with Jim was mystical and powerful. It is a crossing of two worlds, two continents, two traditions: African spirituality and Native American spiritual vision, united in a silent yet intense dialogue. At the center of the piece, a man sits on a sphere — a planet that has come to him from distant galaxies. He sits at the heart of cosmic forces, surrounded by stars that embody revealed wisdom. These stars illuminate his path toward the other continent, creating a radiant bridge between cultures and invisible worlds."
CO-CURATOR & LOCAL ORGANIZER
Founded by art journalist Rémy Mallet, DakArtNews exists to bridge Africa and the world through contemporary art. It promotes African artists, nurtures cross-cultural dialogue, and opens new pathways for global engagement with African creativity. Our curatorial approach is informed by a deep engagement with Africa’s artistic landscapes — from emerging practices to established voices — and by the conviction that art is a space for encounter, reflection, and transformation. DakArtnews offers artists a platform to connect with diverse audiences and with one another, while inviting critics and art professionals to exchange ideas and rethink the narratives of contemporary art. For more information see: www.dakartnews.com
CO-CURATOR
Paul G. Chandler is an author, curator, cultural diplomat, non-profit executive, and authority on the Middle East, Africa and the Abrahamic spiritual traditions. He is the Founding President of CARAVAN, an international arts non-profit/NGO that uses the arts for transformational purposes. He has organized and curated major art exhibitions internationally - in renowned sacred spaces, notable art venues, as well as at reverential memorial sites. He is a sought-after guide on the all-embracing spirituality of the early 20th century Lebanese born poet-artist Kahlil Gibran, the author of The Prophet. He grew up in Senegal, West Africa, and has worked extensively around the world in executive leadership roles within the arts, publishing, relief and development agencies, and with the Anglican Communion. He is the author of four books, including his most recent book titled IN SEARCH OF A PROPHET: A Spiritual Journey with Kahlil Gibran, which focuses on the artistic spiritual journey of the early 20th century Arab-American poet-artist Kahlil Gibran.
HOST PARTNER
Hôtel Le Djoloff is considered one of the most visually striking Art Eco hotels in Dakar, Senegal. A true architectural gem, it blends tradition and modernity with a West African-inspired design, featuring artwork and furniture crafted by renowned Senegalese artists. This distinctive venue, with its terrace overlooking Soumbédioune Bay, offers an experience that marries elegance and comfort with an ethical and ecological ethos, including buildings made of compressed earth bricks and an environmentally friendly air conditioning system. Beyond the visual arts, it has earned a musical reputation through its vibrant jazz club. Recently, Le Djoloff hosted the latest DakArtNews and Caravan Arts exhibition during the 15th edition of the Dakar Biennale, reinforcing its role as an artistic hub. This cultural prominence draws a vibrant mix of art-oriented travelers and celebrated artists, fostering an inspiring and intimate atmosphere. With this artistic foundation, Le Djoloff stands out as a premier “Arts hotel” in Dakar.
