Kassumay LLC

 Our Mission Kassumay celebrates our West African roots by bringing you products that embrace the region’s unique hibiscus sabdariffa. Food brings communities together and by enjoying Kassumay’s fruit spreads and drinks, we connect you with the vibrancy of African cultures and peoples. Our History Kassumay was founded in 2020 by our CEO, Bacary Diatta. It has been his mission to educate people about the culture of southern Senegal (known as the Casamance) and to honor the people and foodways of his home. Our Founder Born in the southern village of Thionck Essyl, Bacary grew up in a place where farming was central to everyday life. His childhood would serve as the inspiration and foundation for Kassumay. Later on, he would move to the capital city, Dakar, and spend over a decade working on humanitarian and human rights projects throughout the country. Bacary moved to the United States in 2018 and knew that he wanted to find a way to introduce American audiences to West African produce while giving back to the farming communities that were so instrumental in his own upbringing. About the Casamance, Our story begins in the Casamance, a place that is close to our hearts and our constant source of inspiration. Life in the southern part of the country is organized around the Casamance River and its many rivers and lagoons. Palm groves, forests, and mangroves carpet the region. Rice fields and cashew orchards abound. This is undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the country, and home to over a million people and communities who have inhabited the area for over a thousand years. The Casamance is truly a natural treasure, a special part of the world where community, culture, and tradition are most prized. Considered to be the longest ongoing conflict in the continent, the Casamance has experienced a tumultuous and sometimes violent history that leaves thousands of people displaced. This land was the site of fierce fighting between the Senegalese government and members of the secessionist group, the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) most intensely from 1982-2014. Approximately forty thousand refugees have returned to the region, although another twenty thousand are divided between The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. In spite of the current struggles of the Casamance people, they continue to fight for peace and tolerance. The traces of combat, however, are still visible today. You can see trenches, shell impacts, and tree trunks that served as protection. Part of this land was planted with mines by combatants of the MFDC, causing enormous damage and human losses (several thousand). It is with the support of Senegal's government and non-profit partners that demining programs are carried out to make these lands livable and safe. About our Commitment to Women in the Casamance Women have played a critical role in peacekeeping negotiations, through spiritual and cultural associations. Casamançais women defy stereotypes and are often considered valued and respected members of their communities. They have been some of the most formative players in peacekeeping missions and encourage displaced populations to return to their villages. Agriculture remains at the heart of social life in the Casamance and women are responsible for their share of maintaining familial rice and millet crops. Over the years, with the support of local authorities, the women of the Casamance began marketing and selling products that already grows on their land. Their intimate knowledge of the land is invaluable. Women’s agricultural and entrepreneurial work is the main source of income for many families in the region and is used to pay for their children’s school fees and living expenses. Bacary saw firsthand growing up in the Casamance and then later with his work promoting women’s rights around the country, how women’s economic success creates real sustained change. When Bacary moved to the United States, he made a commitment to give back to a place and a community that had given him so much. He created an opportunity for women who have suffered from violence to cultivate the land so that they can grow hibiscus sabdariffa. Women earn a living by selling this hibiscus to us at Kassumay, and also to local markets within Senegal. We began by supporting 300 women and are now honored to support 1,700 women who are active in the business of hibiscus farming. The inaccessibility of healthcare, education, and the lack of economic opportunities for women in the Casamance, make it difficult for women to succeed. We stand in solidarity with women’s efforts in the Casamance to better their lives and the lives of their families. We support women in the Casamance by working with women’s associations to source our hibiscus sabdariffa and make sure that they receive a fair wage. We understand that by supporting women, we participate in the success of the whole community. Hope for a Brighter Tomorrow Our work represents the hope for future generations in the Casamance. Peace in recent years has meant the reuniting of families and a return to their homes, but the traumas of past violence are still palpable in the minds of the people. Today, there is a new vision for the region; one that is focused on a thriving, more vibrant Casamance. At Kassumay, we are proud to be a part of this change and to continue working toward a brighter future for our communities