Story:

I brought two items, both handmade. They are typical of Baye Fall or Yaye Fall. Ciakaay means necklace in Wolof; ciakaay Baye Fall is a necklace of Baye fall. Baye Fall means father of fall – Cheikh Ibrahima Fall who was a student of Serigne Touba and thanks to him Ciakaay existed. He created them by hand. During the colonisation, they did not want the colonisation of Senegal by the French. Above all, Serigne Touba fought a lot together with other people; in the end, he took a Touba town telling the French they would not have access. Serigne Touba decided that shoes, clothes and necklaces would be handmade and no French products would be used. 

I was unable to take these items with me. But, a few years ago I asked my brother who lives in Senegal to commission them and send them to me. These objects remind me of my brother, and every time I wear them I think of my family, memories come to mind that I haven’t thought about in a long time. These objects represent my faith towards Cheikh Ibrahima Fall and Serigne Touba. These ciakaay are handmade by artists. The material is cow leather – the necklace while the bracelet is made of wood – Keeno. Keeno is one of the best woods in Senegal, they come from Casamance and Gambia where there are forests. They make wardrobes, tables and beds.

– Ismaila