governance and administration

The MAM Foundation is a non-profit organization with the official status of a non-governmental organization and is now being recognized as being of public utility.

Founder - Honorary President

Maréme Samb Malong

Maréme Samb Malong, a lawyer and marketing specialist, founded the MAM Gallery in 1995 to honour Maryvette Meslin's mother, who passed on her passion for beauty. Until 2014, she created marketing agencies in five countries on the African continent, before giving meaning to her cultural and social commitments, with the establishment of the MAM Foundation as an organ in 2019. Maréme has been the Honorary Consule of Senegal since 1995.

President

Married-Sav Sow

A leader in the energy sector, Marième-Sav Sow held various senior positions, after being trained in finance in the United States. She is currently Vice President Engagement & Advocacy EP Africa. In 2024, she was elected « Female of the year » at the Indian Ocean Summit CEO.

Members of the Board of Directors

Felwine Sarr

Writer, economist, philosopher, author and musician. Felwine Sarr is one of the architects of the «Thought Workshops» of Dakar. Professor at Duke University in the United States, he is recognized for his work on African economies, the restitution of African cultural heritage and the continent's cultural dynamics. Felwine Sarr is piloting the MAM Foundation's Economics of Living laboratory.

Jacques-Jonathan Nyemb

Harvard graduate, internationally renowned lawyer based in Douala, he chairs Think & Do Tank « The Okwelians » It was founded in 2020 and aims to build a community committed to the transformation of Cameroon and Africa based on ethics, leadership and innovation. Through the Foundation he created in memory of his grandmother, he accompanies young people and women in rural areas. Jacques-Jonathan Nyemb brings to the MAM Foundation his valuable expertise in various fields including legal and administrative.

Kodjo-Grandvaux

Philosopher, researcher associated with the Laboratoire d'études et de recherches sur les logics contemporaines de la philosophie de l'Université Paris 8 and teacher at SciencesPo Paris, Severine Kodjo-Grandvaux is the author, among others, of Become alive (2021) and African Philosophy (2013).She is also a journalist for Le Monde. Severine Kodjo-Grandvaux co-pilot MAM Foundation's Economy for Life laboratory.

Dad Madiaw Ndiaye

Senegalese financier, based between Dakar and Washington, Papa Madiaw Ndiaye is an expert in international markets, an outstanding strategic advisor and rigorous manager. Founder of the AFIG Funds investment fund and president of Ecobank TI, he pursues a discreet but essential work: making Africa a pole of stability, growth and financial excellence.

Momar Nguer

An international consultant, President of Mnguer Advisory SAS and member of Orange's board of directors, Momar Nguer is a passionate cultural man of art. It provides a valuable and critical look at the activities of the MAM Foundation as well as significant expertise in management and innovation. In recent years, Momar Nguer has been an agricultural entrepreneur in Senegal.

Alain Malong

After leading one of Cameroon's largest companies. Alain Malong is now Chairman of the Board of Directors of several companies. He is Honorary Consul of Canada. Alain Malong brings his expertise in many areas, including finance, to consolidate the Foundation's activities.

Simon Njami

Writer, exhibition curator, essayist and Cameroonian art critic, Simon Njami is co-founder of the Black magazine author of several novels and biographies. Exhibition Commissioner Africa Remix (2004-2007), Director of the Bamako Encounters and Commissioner of the Dakar Biennale, his work contributed to an international recognition of the works of a large number of African artists. Simon Njami runs the MAM Foundation Academy platform.

Nathalie Etoke

A specialist in French-speaking African literature and cinema, Nathalie Etoke teaches at the City University of New York (CUNY). His work focuses on racial issues, black existentialism and African thought. She is the author of Melancholia Africana, the indispensable exceedance of the black condition (2010), Shades of Black (2021) and Black Existential Freedom (2022). Nathalie Etoke supports the MAM Foundation in its research, training and transmission activities

Companions of the MAM Foundation

Perfect Akana

Sociologist, anthropologist, Executive Director of « The Muntu Institute – African Humanities and Social Sciences »

Mohamed Amine Cissé

Independent artistic adviser

Joël Mpah Dooh

Plastic artist

Marc Jeanson

Botanical director of the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech and former head of the National Herbier at the National Museum of Natural History

Bimp Nktonchou

Lawyer, director and founder of W8 Advisory, collector

Eric Ngansop

Botanist at the National Herbarium of Cameroon

Marc-Alexandre Oho Bambe

Poet, writer, slammer

Makhtar Sow

Economist and consultant

A permanent team of 19 people.

  • The Administrative and Financial Officer

  • The head of the Research and Documentation Centre and host

  • Operations and Farm Manager Marha and team of 8 workers·Agriculture
  • A team of 8 people to take care of residents, maintenance and supervision of the Suza factory.