Ohio Is My Second Country: Music, Art, and Community at Columbus Arts Festival 2026
Cross-posted from Ohio Immigrant Alliance
Watch the full video on YouTube!
Salif sang of one Lynn’s favorite songs, “Aadiyanke.” Watch on TikTok, along with his recap video.
“Ohio is my second country.” That’s what Columbus father Birane Wane said after his deportation to Mauritania. It is also the title of a new coloring book from the Ohio Immigrant Alliance (OIA), drawn by Cincinnati high school student Shema Asifiwe, with text from Lynn Tramonte and Dr. Manuel Chinchilla of Hexagon Books. The coloring book depicts scenes from places Ohioans left before immigrating here, and teaches readers a few words in their family languages.
At the 2026 Columbus Arts Festival, OIA joined with Mauritanian-American pop star Salif Sarr to promote the message behind the coloring book. No matter where we were born — Celina, South Carolina, or Senegal — one thing we have in common is that Ohio is home, now.
The event took place on June 13 at the Cultural Arts Center Stage before a standing-room only crowd. OIA also sold copies of the coloring book and previous OIA books, concert t-shirts, Fulani hoops, and ICE Out/Fuera ICE stickers and prints from Columbus-based Artist Luka Weinberger. (Photos below).
A Columbus resident, Salif is internationally famous for his danceable songs that tackle everyday issues issues — from love, to cultural pride, to police violence. Learn more about Salif in this interview with Matter News and check out some of his songs on the Ohio Is My Second Country playlist.
In addition to performing some of his top hits, like “Mi Suusa” and “Aadiyanke,” Salif was joined on the stage by OIA’s Advocacy Director Demba Ndiath; OIA’s Executive Director Lynn Tramonte; and Houleye Thiam with the Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in US. Unfortunately, artist Shema Asifiwe could not attend at the last minute.
Soon, Demba will publish “From Welcome To Deportation: A Story of West African Immigrants Who Crossed the U.S.-Mexico Border,” a book about the policies that drive immigration from West Africa, and the experiences of people coming to Ohio to start a new, safe life. Listen to an interview with Demba on WOSU.
OIA has participated in the Columbus Arts Festival for several years. “Ohio Is My Second Country” is a follow-up from last year's collab with poet-activist Houleye Thiam, griot Habi Gawlo, and the Barro sisters, entitled “Pulaagam: A Celebration of Fulani Heritage” and 2024’s electrifying set with West African drummers Tam Tam Magic.
OIA is a group of immigrants and U.S. born citizens working together to make Ohio a better place for everyone. Read more about our cultural and arts programming on the OIA blog.
