In November, 1997, Oumar Dia, an ex-pat from the tiny, remote village of Diorbivol, Senegal who was working as a bellhop at the downtown Hyatt in Denver, was shot and killed while waiting for a bus after work. The murder was an unprovoked hate crime. The outcry from Denver’s citizens was huge, and led to the return of Oumar’s body to his village and a project to establish a bridge of solidarity and respect with the people of Diorbivol and beyond.

 

African Heritage Celebration, a 501(c)3 non-profit, was formed as a tribute to Oumar Dia’s life, a reflection of the graciousness that the Senegalese are known for, and as a conduit for sustainable, positive impact on children in the developing world. We are an all-volunteer organization that has helped over 75,000 students so far, thanks to the generous support of donors in Denver and around the world.