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    Whatever Happened To ... The Guy From Niger Who Dreamed Of Being A Leather Maestro?

    Soumana Saley has a passion for leather crafts — and for education. But the pandemic has presented challenges as he builds his reputation and his school in Niger.
    by Marc Silver Sep 07, 2020 3 minutes
    Leather sandals, made by Saley, on display along with other items.

    At 6' 2", wearing a purple tunic and crowned with a sky blue hat, Soumana Saley cut a dramatic figure at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival's "Crafts of African Fashion" program in 2018. He was surrounded by his leatherwork — from wallets to sandals to shoulder bags with etched geometric designs reflecting the art of his homeland, Niger. He now lives in Millersburg, Penn. When we spoke, he had two sources of income:

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