Written and photographed by Daniela Steinsapir Whole families of
crafters find ingenious ways to use recycled materials. Last
summer, I visited my sister in Dakar, Senegal. As an artist and
art teacher, I was inspired to see that the DIY movement,
especially the impulse to find new ways of making things from
recycled objects, has roots all around the world. Like most
crafters, the Senegalese exhibit ingenuity in their crafts. They
use computer parts, discarded electronics, wood, wire, Coca-Cola
and Nescafé cans, books, sand, plastics, natural pigments from
trees, car and bicycle parts, spray paints, construction tools,
hardware, and anything they can take apart and hack. With these
they create tiny sculptures, guitars, decorative shelving,
chairs, and frames, among many other items. Crafters work inside
makeshift studios near local open markets, or within their own
small, family-run factories. One of the factories I visited,
located in the district of Niaye Tioker, is run by Makha
Dembele, 59, who has a small