Recently, the United Muslim Business Association (UMBA) partnered with GlobalAfricans.com and hosted a celebratory gathering for Madame Khadija Mechecor Diouf, mayor of the Golf Sud, a part of the municipality of Senegal’s capital city, Dakar.
Zakariyya Abdur Rahman, chairman of the UMBA, explained to Africa Watch that Madam Diouf’s position is the equivalent of being the president of the city council of Dakar. “So, Madame Diouf being in Philadelphia is as an ambassador representing Senegal’s capital city,” he said.
An industrial engineer, Madame Diouf holds a master’s degree in management sciences and industrial and commercial network engineering. She also has a technical university diploma in industrial engineering obtained at the Higher School of Technology of Casablanca (Mohammed V University, Morocco). She also holds a master’s degree in transportation law- safety and security from the University of Toulouse Capitole, France, and a scientific baccalaureate from the Cours Sainte-Marie de Hann in Dakar, Senegal.
Traveling with an official letter addressed to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker from Dakar Mayor Abass Fall, Madame Diouf aims to initiate a dialogue between Philadelphia and Dakar, with the goal of establishing a sister city partnership. Mayor Parker is the first Black woman and first woman to be elected mayor of Philadelphia.
According to sistercities.org, “A sister city, county, or state relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement to become sister cities.” The website explains that these partnerships are emerging globally with the goal of cities exchanging technology, resources, and knowledge and could potentially address “interconnected challenges” being faced around the world, including food and energy concerns in vulnerable communities. The celebration was hosted at Kilimandjaro, a popular Senegalese restaurant in West Philadelphia, and Madam Diouf’s introductory remarks at the event were livestreamed in Senegal.
At the October 19 event, Madame Diouf received a citation from Philadelphia’s City Council and a citation from Pennsylvania State legislators. In attendance was former councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who currently serves as chairman of the Mayor’s Commission of African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, and Stan Straighter, chairman emeritus of the African and Caribbean Business Council. Businessman Bashirou Seck, who serves as the chief advisor to the Office of Special Envoy of the Republic of Sierra Leone Ambassador Waleed Shamsid-Deen, recently in from Senegal, served as translator for Madame Diouf.
Prior to his introductory remarks, Seck thanked Ms. Blackwell for “building bridges between Africa and African Americans.”
Introducing Madame Diouf, he said, “She is the female face of the ruling party in Senegal. It is easy (to introduce her) because she is the youngest female mayor in Senegal. It is also easy because it is someone who turned down a ministerial position to stay with her community. And finally, it is easy to introduce someone like Khadija (Diouf) who inspires millions of Senegalese and African young people around the continent.”
In addition, Seck noted, “The mayor of Dakar entrusted her with taking the lead with this program, which includes building a bridge between Dakar and the City of Philadelphia.”
In her opening remarks, Madame Diouf, 43, stated that she was “extremely happy and delighted” to be in Philadelphia. “And I want to thank each and every one of you for this moment. I think this meeting represents a great momentum for all of us, including youth leadership,” she said.
“Each day we awaken, we need to get up for the continent of Africa,” Madame Diouf added.
Putting emphasis on the youth of today, she said, “This generation of Africans and Africans in the diaspora, I’m convinced that we are going to make history.”
She also said, “The time is past for us to be behind. We have to take the lead. We have all the potential, the youth, the women, the natural resources. We have all the potential to develop ourselves as a people. And together we’re going to build a legacy for the coming century.”
Madame Diouf ended her short talk saying, “In coming here, I feel the energy. You are energizing me, inspiring me more to work harder, to work more, because as Africans we get to write our own narrative.”
The significance of the evening was summed up by psychologist and yoga instructor, Dr. Robbin Astou Alston, who declared, “The event for me was historical.”
“As a child, I was taught that Africa was a dark continent. Yet so much light radiated through that room. In a way it felt like a reunion. I was inspired by everyone’s remarks, but also relaxed with their presence.” Follow Jehron Muhammad
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