Year: 2000-2009

Medium: Culture, Site-specific, Craziness, Mud Bricks, Wood, Grass, Cement, Prayers

Contributing Artists: Milla Sylla, Morlai Sylla, Brahmasory Sylla, Abas Camara

A ten-year project, “Center Illymanya” was home to the annual adventure-travel missions hosting students from across North America and Europe. A modest retreat center, Illymanya is based on a mountaintop in the Susu Mountains of Guinea, West Africa. 

Created as a cultural-exchange school, Illymanya hosted 10-20 westerners for 3 weeks every year and programmed drum, dance and balafon classes in addition to weekend adventures and local explorations. 

In 2007, Seattle-based documentary film makers Reel Insyte followed this “strange pilgrimage” to Guinea, and produced a film titled “Illymanya.” The piece was shown at film festivals nationally, winning awards and inspiring many. The full film can be seen here. 

Video: Reel Insyte