Curating and Celebrating the Culture with Dr. Diana Baird N'Diaye

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Diana Baird N'Diaye, an Interdisciplinary Visual Artist/Maker, cultural scholar, Principal investigator, and Curator of the Will to Adorn: African American Dress and the Aesthetics of Identity. She developed and led the African American Crafts Initiative. Also, she was awarded the Smithsonian Secretary’s Research Prize for Curatorial Conversations and Curated Smithsonian Folklife Festival programs and exhibitions on Senegal, Maroon communities, African immigrant culture, Bermuda, Haiti, the African roots of Virginia’s culture, and African American. Dr. N'Diaye talks about how she started and sharpened her sewing career, her project of the Bermuda festivals, the Smithsonian Senegal program, the Will to Adorn project and, African American fashion cultures styling. She also shares some insights on what curators do and why they are essential for keeping cultural records and the crafts of African fashion. Tune in to learn more on this and other exciting topics!