Video of Hero Painting recipient Sir Lamine Savadogo on web broadcast speaking about his painting

My good friend and brother, Sir Lamine Savadogo, was on a web broadcast on October, 2021 speaking about his business promoting trade and diplomacy between the United States and Africa. The interview was conducted by host Vivian Birchall in her studio in Boston.

Ms. Birchall asked Lamine about the painting, and he went on to describe our friendship and why I painted this painting for him. He is a very special person and well deserving of a Hero Painting for his work to bridge the cultural, business and economic challenges between Africa and the United States.

Lamine and I have been good friends and brothers now for about 30 years. We met while doing business in several African countries. He is a very accomplished person, born in Mali, with a long history of working on cross-continental issues and opportunities. He received

Lamine also served as my ambassador to ATASK (Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence) in the presentation of my paintings for that organization.

The following is from Lamine's Hero Painting dedication:

“For Africa and for you, Mali” and “America! America! God shed His grace on thee”

These phrases are from:

"Le Mali", the national anthem of Mali and “America. A Poem for July 4”, 1911 version

It was my honor to paint this Hero Painting for my very good friend and brother, The Honorable Lamine Savadogo.

Since his arrival on the shores of the United States, Lamine has constantly and consistently shown his dedication to his birth country of Mali, his birth continent of Africa, and his adopted country, the United States of America. His tireless dedication to all three demonstrates his patriotic loyalty and fidelity. He is truly a Hero of Mali, Africa and the United States of America.

As the President of Marison Energy, Lamine has worked with many companies and national level government agencies to assist in the development of energy resources for many countries on the continent of Africa as well as in the United States. Specifically, his great efforts through the Edison Electric Institute as Ambassador for Africa; the US State Department as Special Envoy; the US Trade and Development Agency; the United Nations Development Programme; and electric industries across the continent of Africa have earned him due respect from people and governments around the world.

In 2001, Lamine was elevated to the rank of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mali, by the President of the Republic of his native Mali. Kija and I were very honored to have been invited to attend your ceremony at the Embassy of Mali in Washington, DC.

Your continued dedication to your family in Mali is extraordinary. Kija and I are very proud to be called your sister and brother.

The Painting

The painting is an abstract representation of the national flag of Mali which is accented with horizontal streaks of Iridescent Gold Deep (Fine), and a special overlay of the 50 stars of the American flag to represent Lamine’s two homelands. The four sides of the painting are accented with small gold mica and each side is marked with special medallions of large gold mica: one for his birthplace, Mali; one for his birth continent, Africa; one for his adopted country of America; and one for our special brotherhood.

“For Africa and for you, Mali” and

“America! America! God shed His grace on thee”

Artist: Jim Aylward

Painted in Naples, Florida

November, 2020

Acrylic on canvas, 18” x 24”

Painted using palette knife

www.jimaylward.com

617-233-8424