Yermande African Folklife Celebration and Fundraiser for Senegal

When:
Saturday, September 6th
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Who:
Dallo Goudiaby, co-founder of Yermande https://yermande.org/
and Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts www.smokebrush.org

Where:
Red Crags Arts and Agriculture House (Smokebrush Farm)
302 El Paso Boulevard
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
At the corner of El Paso Blvd. and Rockledge Ln.
Carpooling encouraged due to limited parking

Ticketing:

$35 per person (30 Max)

Can’t make it to the event but still want to make a difference? You can contribute in a meaningful way → LINK

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What:
Join Senegalese community leader Dallo Goudiaby and Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts for a heartfelt celebration in the spirit of Yermande, a gathering rooted in connection, compassion, and community.

Enjoy an afternoon of traditional Senegalese food, music, song, and dance as we come together to support Dallo’s mission as we raise funds and awareness for vital grassroots projects in her home village in southern Senegal.

Event highlights include:
• Live music, traditional drumming, and dance performances led by Dallo and her troupe
• Lovingly prepared, homemade West African cuisine
• A pop-up marketplace featuring handmade goods and colorful African fashion

This event is more than a cultural celebration, it’s a joyful expression of resilience, generosity, and shared humanity. Experience the spirit of Senegal through rhythm, flavor, and movement, and help support Dallo’s mission!

Hosted at the Red Crags Arts and Agriculture House, a historic Manitou Springs estate transformed into a vibrant center for creativity, community, and connection. Located on Smokebrush Farm and aligned with the Smokebrush Foundation’s mission to cultivate creative community, Red Crags hosts weekly classes, artist residencies, cultural gatherings, studio space, and hands-on workshops, all rooted in the agricultural rhythms of a working urban farm.

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Funds raised will go directly to Yermande.org, a nonprofit based in West Africa that promotes environmental and economic sustainability in Senegal. Their grassroots initiatives include reforestation, access to clean water, and regenerative economic development, projects designed to strengthen both land and livelihood.

This year’s campaign will fund tree planting ahead of the rainy season, an essential effort that restores the land, provides shade and storm protection, and secures long-term ecological health for future generations. It will also fund the wages of four local women who lead the care of the village’s community garden—feeding their neighbors, earning income, and cultivating lasting change from the ground up.

These efforts embody Yermande’s mission: to empower communities, safeguard natural resources, and cultivate a more just and sustainable future.

"I understand that life is hard all around the world, which is why I want to share some of my musical culture and traditional food with the people who attend the event." — Dallo

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Every dollar goes directly toward Yermande's grassroots efforts in West Africa, supporting environmental restoration, education, and community-led development.

Additional Giving Opportunities:
Those unable to attend may still contribute through direct donations [link]. Yermande is also accepting gently used cameras to help villagers document their reforestation and education projects, as well as working laptops for village students studying abroad.

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For more information on Yermande, reach out to Dallo at:
https://yermande.org/contact-us

Any other curiosities about this event or other Smokebrush events; reach out to us at
smokebrushevents@gmail.com