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_samate

@_samate

1.8K

followers

2010

following

🎥 Dig Creator
🌍YALI Alumni | PDE @clemson
📍RVA + Dakar
🎞 Founder: @samatespixelstudio @sam_and_jo
Cofound 🔗 @afrocentric_journey

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

📸 @_samate 😮‍💨🔥

The photos speak for themselves 😍

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Any excuse to get all dressed up✨
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#explore #viral #explorepage

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To be recognized for the impact on the city that birthed and raised me at 24 only a year in of doing what I do was truly a moment that left me speechless. I take this as an immense honor as I was nominated alongside Richmond legends who’ve been putting in the work for years.

I intentionally kept the promotion of my nomination to a minimum because I wanted to see how yall felt about me and you showed up and showed out, I’m beyond elated.

Thank you for trusting me to be your guide to Richmond night life, I’m dedicated to showcasing the many events, organizers, and DJs that our city has to offer.

This is only the beginning and I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve. We’re not just going to revive faith in Richmond nightlife, we’re going to revive faith in nightlife as a whole.

Thank you @culturecollective.media and thank all of you!

#rvaevents #rvacreator #awardsceremony #creatives #change

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✨ YOU’RE INVITED. 🏆

Tomorrow, we celebrate THE CULTURE.

Culture Connect X: The Culture Honors Awards Gala is a night dedicated to recognizing the people who continue to create, build, serve, connect, and push Richmond forward.

But this night is bigger than awards.

The Culture Honors is also a fundraiser supporting the continued growth of Culture Collective Academy and our work to provide education, resources, opportunities, and community for creatives and entrepreneurs as we expand our impact into 2027.

Come dressed to impress, celebrate some incredible people, connect with the community, and help us continue building something that lasts.

📍 @Black.Iris.Social.Club
📅 Sunday, September 20
🚪 Doors Open: 6 PM
🏆 Awards Ceremony: 7:15 PM
✨ Upscale / Dress to Impress — No jeans or T-shirts

🎟️ Use code CULTURE10 for $10 OFF your ticket.

This is our 10th Culture Connect.
Come celebrate how far we’ve come—and where we’re going next.

You’re invited. 🥂🏆

#TheCultureHonors #CultureConnectX #CultureCollective #804TheCulture #RichmondVA RVA

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L.E.G.A.C.Y 🩸
#iwasborntomakenoise🥁🪘
#Thekidfrom🇸🇳
📸by_ the G.O.A.T The M.A.S.T.E.R.C.L.A.S.S
@samatespixelstudio @_samate 🙏🏿💙💙

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When art enters the classroom, the conversation can go anywhere. 📸🇸🇳

AKN and The Arc Institute Global team, Tevera Stith and Abdoulaye Samate joined artist, activist, and extraordinary educator Zulu Malandela and his students at KIPP DC College Preparatory High School in Northeast Washington, DC for a powerful exchange.

Through AKN’s photographs, students explored Senegal’s historic 2024 presidential election and the youth-led movement that helped reshape the country’s political future, but the conversation quickly went beyond photography.

Freedom. Democracy. Resistance. Liberation. The power of young people to shape history.

And one question that stayed with us:

Who really owns the flag? the government or the people?

From there, we wrestled with questions even bigger than the photographs themselves: Who gets to tell the story of a movement? What does freedom look like through the lens of young people? And how can art become an instrument of liberation?

We came to share photographs. We left reminded of what happens when art, history, activism, and education meet in the same classroom.

Deep gratitude to Zulu and the brilliant KIPP DC College Prep students for welcoming us and making space for a rich and unforgettable exchange.

Première Ligne / First Line: A People’s Witness
Richmond, Virginia · April 2, 2027

📍 Washington, DC
🔗 arcinstituteglobal.org
#PremiereLigne #TheArcInstitute #AbdouKarimNdoye #Senegal #Photography ArtAndActivism Democracy WashingtonDC YouthActivism KIPPDC

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✨ MODEL FEATURE — CONFIDENCE IS THE LOOK

She stepped onto that runway and OWNED her moment. 🔥

I created this black sports bra paired with a sparkling swim bottom cover-up with the vision of combining athletic energy, femininity, and a little ✨GLAM✨ — and she brought it to life beautifully.

There’s something special about watching a woman put on something you created and carry herself with confidence, presence, and undeniable energy.

She understood the assignment. 🖤✨

Thank you for trusting my vision and representing The Sk8 Aesthetic at my very first runway show.

Confidence looks good on you. 💫

#TheSk8Aesthetic #LuxuryInMotion #SkatingIsArt #ModelFeature #Runway SwimwearFashion FashionShow RVAFashion WomenInFashion

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We were in the room. 🎙️🇸🇳

On August 17, The Arc Institute presented *The Arc from Prison to Palace: A Global Lens on Justice, Resistance, and Reentry* at the APPA 51st Annual Training Institute in Chicago, a selective program, and the premier gathering for community corrections professionals in the United States. The conference drew leaders from across the country and across Chicago, among them @chicagosmayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois State Senator @elgie_sims Jr.

Photographer and special advisor to Senegal’s President brought his work before American probation and parole officers for the first time, telling the story of Senegal’s 2021–2024 democratic movement in French and Wolof. Abdoulaye Samate interpreted live and presented alongside him. Aisha Bullard presented, led, and facilitated the discussion. It was very engaging.

We were honored to have APPA President @marcusmhodges and members of the Board of Directors in the room.

The session traced one arc: from the streets of Dakar, to a prison cell, to the presidential palace 10 days between a release from prison and an election.

Then we asked the room to hold it against their own work:

*A photograph captures a moment. A case file captures a history. A risk assessment predicts a probability. None of them contains the future.*

Everyone left with a card and one question in their own handwriting: **What will you carry back?**

Thank you, APPA. Thank you, Chicago.

*Première Ligne / First Line: A People’s Witness* — U.S. Premiere, Richmond, Virginia, April 2, 2027.
🔗 arcinstituteglobal.org · Photography © Abdou Karim Ndoye

#APPA2026 #PrisonToPalace #PremiereLigne #TheArcInstitute #CommunityCorrections ReentryReimagined Senegal Chicago

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Media Day was all about creating, connecting, and giving Richmond’s creative community more opportunities to be seen. 📸🔥

From headshots and content creation to new connections and collaborations, Culture Connect 9 reminded us exactly why we started this series in the first place.

Thank you to everyone who pulled up, created with us, and brought the energy. Special thanks to the photographers @niqko @jpeg.mikey @_samate for the awesome shots! Picture link in our bio.

This is only the beginning for what we’re building with Culture Collective.

Which photo is your favorite? 👇🏾

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Magal 2K26 🤲🏾✨

A beautiful day of faith, community, culture, and togetherness. ❤️

Grateful to everyone who came out, contributed, served, connected, and helped make this Magal special.

Alhamdoulilah ‘ala kouli hal. May Allah accept our prayers, our efforts, and our intentions, and allow us to witness many more together. 🤲🏾

Barkep Serigne Touba

Jërëjëf ❤️🇸🇳

#Magal2026 #GrandMagal #MagalTouba #Touba #SenegaleseCommunity SenegaleseDiaspora SenegaleseCulture Teranga RichmondVA

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🖕🏾Th3 Pr3vi3w🖕🏾

So Much To Drop Had To Drop A Pr3vi3w.
Shout Out To All Who Invited Us To Their Events And Projects.

@electricsunsociety
@jjseatery_
@jpeg.mikey
@eldacreatrix

#summervibes #outside #community

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