Withdraw deportation order for Sekou "Diko" Sylla

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We the undersigned hereby petition Immigration Canada for the immediate withdrawal of the deportation order issued on Sekou Sylla (aka "Diko").

Sekou Sylla arrived in Canada in January 1999 and has since been a huge asset to the African Music scene in Vancouver and across Canada. He has played in numerous professional groups and toured throughout Canada as well as in parts of the United States. He has played with Doundounba Music, Masabo Culture Company, Juno Award Winner Alpha Yaya Diallo, Asakume, Kokoma African Heritage Ensemble, Beresanke, Yoro Noukoussi, Mandido, and many others.

Sekou is not only a fine musician but a fine and generous human being. He is an honest kind person with a clean criminal record who simply wishes to share the music of Africa with others.

We are distraught to hear that this member of our community, who has contributed so much to Canada in the sharing of his drumming skills, is no longer permitted to work in Canada and is being ordered to return to his home country of Guinea. Returning to Guinea poses a great risk to his well being and possibly his survival. We hereby propose that Immigration allow Sekou Sylla to stay and work in Canada where he is safe and can continue to contribute to this community as a productive and loving man.

280 Signatures

  • Allison Griffith
  • Iona Elgabry
    • Comments
    • В
  • lianne payne
    • Comments
    • В
  • Darcy Booth
    • Comments
    • I have known Dico for 9 years and he has been my drum teacher and personal friend. He has been an integral part of my wife's(N'Nato Camara) West African Group. Dico is an invaluable part of the World Music Scene in Vancouver and all of Canada for that matter.
  • N'NATO CAMARA
    • Comments
    • I am a professional dancer from Guinea West Africa and a member of the SUSU ethnic group as is Dico. I recently became a Canadian Citizen. I need Dico to stay in Canada and become a Canadian Citizen because he is the djembe drum soloist I want in my group ASA KUME.
  • Marielle Duranteau
    • Comments
    • Sekou Sylla is an amazing musician, a gentle and kind soul and a real gem to have in the world of West African drum and dance. He is definetly a cultural ambassador and has helped open so many people's hearts and minds to the culture and music of Guinea, West Africa. My husband, master dancer from Guinea, Andre "Mohamed" Duranteau and I have started a successful and thriving, Victoria based, drum & dance school and performance troupe named Wontanara Drum & Dance Co. Without a doubt, if allowed to remain in Canada, Diko would be the one we would call on whenever we have performance contracts. He is a pleasure to work with and is adored by all who meet him or get the privilege of hearing him play.
  • Kevin Murray
    • Comments
    • This is the moral course of action
  • Odette Slater
  • Lisa Soro
    • Comments
    • Together with my husband Fana Soro, we manage/own Masabo Culture Company and we employed Dico for a majority of the time he has spent in Canada on a contractual basis. Losing Dico has been difficult for our group as he is an integral part to our success in Canada.He must remain in Canada for many many reasons.
  • Kaly Soro
  • Fana Soro
    • Comments
    • Dico is my friend and colleague. Many of us who came from Africa to Canada to share our music have been granted permanent status here in Canada - Dico is NO DIFFERENT than the rest of us. Canada's music scene needs Dico. And I need him as a friend and colleague to remain in Canada. Being sent back to Africa is not good for Dico or for Canada.
  • Mireille Loussouko
  • Nadjema Soro
  • Darren Richardson
  • Valerie Dare
    • Comments
    • I am a retired teacher who has known Dico during the 10 years I coordinated a world music youth program at Britannia Community Services Centre in Vancouver. He has always been reliable and generous with his time and talent. I strongly opposes Dico's deportation because of his contributions to youth and the artistic community in Vancouver and beyond.
  • Amalia Colussi
    • Comments
    • В
  • Laurie Robson
    • Comments
    • Sekou Syall is a highly skilled professional drummer who generously shares his talents and skills. I have know Sekou since 2005 through my non-profit society Vancouver Rhythm and Dance and found him to be generous in sharing his talents, making a vital contribution to help promote cultural diversity and supporting the growing interest in West African Drumming that is prevalent on the west coast of Canada. My experience with Sekou is that he is an honest, caring individual who has worked hard to integrate himself to become an active participant in our community. I believe that Sekou finds himself in this situation because he put his trust in the wrong people.
  • Nola Harach
    • Comments
    • It is significant to the well being of Diko that he be aloud to stay in canada , this has become his home for many years and he has friends that support his functioning level to help him maintain a quaility of life that all human beings deserve.
  • Sarah Lee Parker Koumbassa
    • Comments
    • I have travelled to Sekous homeland, Guinea, 7 times. There, I learn to be a world citizen: I learn about respect for my elders, how to live in a tight household working through conflicts, how to trust and love, how to be present, and how to be happy and peaceful. While it is true that Guinea is widely regarded as the preeminent home of West African music and dance, and having a master of Sekous caliber in Canada is an absolute treasure, the real opportunity of having Sekou here is to learn from him about his culture beyond music and dance. All of us need less emphasis on material wealth and more focus on family, connection, community, and peace. In a glance at Sekous resume it is clear he is doing his part to share these values with us and our children. Not everyone can travel to Africa, but thousands of people can attend his concerts, workshops, lectures, classes or residencies. In this shrinking, yet ever more isolating world, we need people like Sekou to remind us what is most important in life
  • Drew Makepeace
  • Abby Bull
    • Comments
    • Sending Diko back to Guinea would be a huge loss to our drumming/african dance community. Please, please keep him here!
  • Claudine Pommier
    • Comments
    • Diko brings a big contribution to Canadian cultural life
  • Erin Dale
    • Comments
    • I had the privilege of learning traditional rythms from Mr. Sylla a few year ago. It was an important experience in my life. He contributes to the advancement of multicultural arts and culture in Canada in a significant way because he is a respected leader in his field. His skill and gift for passing this knowledge is necesary in Canada to promote peace and counter racism; his art and his good nature are bringing people together and informing us about our national identity and strengths as a nation.
  • Lori Grant
  • Mallory Pred
  • Laura Blumenthal
  • Myriam Steinberg
    • Comments
    • As a festival producer, I have had the pleasure of working with Dico on several occasions. He is a consumate musician and a kind person. I fully support and wish for his remaining in Canada.
  • Norm DeVos
  • Lynn Weaver
  • Robert Bigelow
    • Comments
    • Diko should be allowed to stay is Canada as long as he chooses because he is a good person and he makes a positive contribution.
  • Byron Weaver
  • Bryce McBride
    • Comments
    • By deporting such a generous individual, it is the Canadians here who will be losing cultural influence and growth.
  • Ron Stelting
    • Comments
    • Just being around Diko is an incredible education. It's important that we get to experience a different culture through the wealth of knowledge that Diko brings to Canada.
  • marc fournier
    • Comments
    • В
  • Yoro Noukoussi
    • Comments
    • I've learned from Sekou Sylla's Experience as a skilled Musician here in Canada, worked with him shared our skills with many Canadians and He also shared his Guinean Culture with almost all Canadian school system. So I'am proud to say Sekou Sylla is and will always be our community's pride here in Vanocuver. Please keep him here
  • Ilana Moon
    • Comments
    • Dico is am amazing person and artist. It is a shame for Canadians to lose such incredible talent
  • aisha
  • Charlie hopson
  • Isiuwa Aimiose
  • Betina Ali
  • Rebecca Wagner
  • Jennifer Olson
  • alejandro romero
  • Stefania Buonocore
    • Comments
    • Diko should be granted Canadian citizenship, not sent to Guinea, as he is a very significant figure in our world music scene. Many groups and people have come to depend on his talent as a performer. His contribution to arts and culture here is enormous. He is one of the most talented percussionists in the country and we are so fortunate to have him here. After having Diko play for many African dance classes I attended, I was inspired to travel to Guinea to learn more about the vibrant art of which he is an ambassador.
  • Blake Anderson
  • C Hopson
    • Comments
    • I have known Diko since his arrival in Canada. He has been my teacher as well as a good friend. His enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge of his music and culture is always there. The last time I saw him perform at the Chan Centre with a troupe of fellow African musicians his performance was outstanding. He is an asset to Canada and should not be deported.
  • january Wolodarsky
  • rebecca salit
  • Annica Burnaby
    • Comments
    • Sekou "Diko" Sylla is a gifted and traditionally trained musician from Guinea, Africa. His expertise in West African Music and Dance as well as all aspects of West African Culture and Art is of great value to many Canadians. He is an outstanding musician and performer. His musical and artistic expertise is an asset to Canadians and it would be a shame if he were to be deported.
  • Sangito Bigelow