A Magazine: Synthesis Curated for Youssouf Fofana

A Publisher is pleased to announce Synthesis Curated for Youssouf Fofana, a project supported by Jordan Brand that will launch to coincide with their exhibition project District 23 – a living, breathing example of how to use sport’s greatest stage, as an accelerator for lasting impact that serves the entire community, particularly the next generation – an initiative creative directed by Fofana for Jordan Brand. Synthesis Curated For Youssouf Fofana is guest-edited by the French-Senegalese designer and founder of Maison Château Rouge and the Union de la jeunesse internationale himself, on the occasion of Jordan Brand’s Summer of Basketball Culture. The issue serves as an exploration of the African diaspora — in particular creatives connected to Senegal and West Africa (where Fofana finds his roots) — in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, with a look at how sport and shared culture can create community. 

From exploring the inter-African football matches at Square Leon, where aunties are selling their craft and foods to onlookers, to the exploration of Senegalese handcraft, textile and embroidery, to new takes on French classic cuisine, the 112 page issue explores the ideas around a synthesis of French identity – where the children of immigrants have created their own lines of creative expression that call on their blended heritage of two homes — in Paris and from the continent. 

The 18th represents for Fofana the new — and maybe real — France; Design and art movements in and around the base of Montmartre are contextualised historically, as the area has been for over a century the locale of many of Paris’ creative community. Fofana calls upon many creatives and collaborators who have spent time in and around the Goutte D’Or neighbourhood, including artists, photographers, designers, musicians, athletes, chefs, historians and entrepreneurs.

The dialogue between the cultures of West and North Africa and Paris are at the heart of this issue, brought to life in many forms, ranging from food to fashion, music to design, and much more. 

The cover references the plastic striped bags many families in the African — but also global — diaspora communities use to carry goods from the market, with illustrated ‘travel stickers’ on the back cover. Accompanied by a map-poster insert of the 18th arrondissement, places that make the neighbourhood what it is, Fofana invites the reader to explore an often overlooked neighbourhood to experience his — and the new — Paris. 

Contributors include: 

Alassan Diawara, Alexandre Zongo, Amy Sall, Annie Vallet, Axel Aurejac, Diadié Diombana, Djamal Saka, Eva Diallo, Glory Kabe, Harlem Lamine, Haroun, Ilyes Griyeb, Inès di Folco Jemni, Khalilou Fadiga, Laye Mar, Loick Mfoundou, Lou Assous, Marianne Costade, Maty Biayenda, Maya-Inès Touam, Mory Sacko, Moya Diomande, Mustapha, Belhocine, Ramata-Toulaye Sy, Wu Yué, Xulybët, Yanma Fofana and more.