Hawa Diallo Unveils Restored Amadou Diallo Mural in the Bronx

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BRONX, NY -- Emerging artist Ms. Hawa Diallo unveiled her new restorations to the famed Amadou Diallo mural in the Bronx today, the first updates to the mural since its creation in 2001.

The 18 foot mural honors the spot where Amadou Diallo, an African immigrant, died in a hail of 41 police bullets on February 4th, 1999. Since then, the mural has become a popular tourist attraction on Wheeler Ave. Hawa Diallo is renovating the mural to honor the life of Amadou Diallo and bring attention to the work of the Amadou Diallo Foundation.

“I’m honored to have had the responsibility to restore this mural and bring attention to an important moment in New York’s history. The fight is not over -- this mural is a reminder of the work our city and our nation needs to do, so that lives like Amadou’s are not lost in the future,” said painter Hawa Diallo.

“This beautiful mural commemorating the life and legacy of Amadou Diallo holds a dear spot in my heart, a reminder of where we have been since that fateful night on Wheeler Avenue, and where we want to go as we continue our fight for justice and equity. I want to thank The Amadou Diallo Foundation, which continues to find ways to improve the relations between residents and the police department while also honoring Amadou’s passion for education, raising money for scholarships that will support our city’s and borough’s future leaders,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. addresses the crowd. He was joined by
members of Amadou Diallo's family and Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner. 

Today’s unveiling leads up to the 2nd annual Amadou Diallo Foundation Benefit Dinner, taking place February 4, 2017.

The February event will take place at the Alhambra Ballroom, honoring former Congressman Rangel, former Mayor David Dinkins, and Rev. Al Sharpton. Emmy award-winning reporter and multimedia journalist AJ Ross will emcee the dinner.

Ms. Diallo’s latest exhibit will follow both of these events at a later date.

Hawa, a Fulani from West Africa, arrived in the United States as a refugee and as a survivor of genocide. After receiving political asylum in the U.S., Diallo began painting in her mid-40’s, using her near-photographic visual recall to produce paintings rich with the history of her childhood, as well as the pain and beauty of her experiences in Africa. Diallo’s paintings have received worldwide attention, and her work was recently featured in the February 2016 issue of O magazine.

To see more of Hawa Diallo’s work, visit hawadiallo.com

Source: Mercury