Badara Ndiaye facts for kids

Badara Ndiaye was born on March 31, 1986, in Kaolack, Senegal. He is a talented artist, journalist, and fashion designer. He is also a photographer, filmmaker, and model. Before his creative career, he was a basketball player in college.

About Badara Ndiaye

Badara Ndiaye grew up in Senegal. His parents are Abdallah Ndiaye and Ndeye Ndiaye. His father is a well-known actor. His mother works to support women's rights. Badara has two brothers.

Early Life and Interests

When he was young, Badara enjoyed many sports. He played volleyball, football (soccer), and basketball. He also liked gymnastics. He started playing basketball when he was 17 years old. He describes himself as a quiet child. He was part of his school's culture club.

Moving to the United States

Badara was invited to play college basketball in the United States. He learned English after he moved there. At university, he studied sociology, anthropology, and psychology. These subjects help us understand people and cultures.

Working for a Better World

Badara has worked with the United Nations (UN). He was also recognized as a cultural ambassador for Senegal. This means he helps represent his country's culture to the world. He strongly supports human rights for everyone. He works to show African people and cultures in a positive way. He also believes in fair treatment for all people, no matter who they are.

Where He Lives

Badara Ndiaye mainly lives in Paris, France. He also has a home in Miami Beach, Florida. He travels a lot around the world. He speaks several languages fluently. These include English, French, and Spanish. He also knows some Hebrew and other languages from Senegal.

Basketball Journey

Badara Ndiaye was a skilled basketball player. His journey began in Senegal.

High School Success

He went to Fontiyon Tabl high school in Saint-Louis, Senegal. He was the most valuable player (MVP) on his team. He scored about 17 points and got 6 rebounds per game. He helped his team win a regional championship in 2003. An NBA program noticed his talent. He was chosen as one of the top five players from many countries. He attended a special camp in South Africa.

College Basketball in the U.S.

In 2005, Badara moved to the United States. He played basketball at Southeastern Community College (Iowa) (SECC). He played there from 2005 to 2007. As a freshman, he averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, he blocked about 1.5 shots per game. He was seen as a top player. During college, he grew taller and gained muscle.

Playing for FIU

Badara then transferred to Florida International University (FIU) in 2007. He played for the FIU Panthers until 2009. He was a versatile player. He played power forward at SECC and center at FIU. For the Panthers, he was second on the team in blocked shots. He also had good stats for rebounds, points, steals, and assists.

End of Basketball Career

During his senior year, Badara had a knee injury. He needed surgery, which unfortunately ended his basketball career. After this, he started a new path. He became a creative producer. This happened after fashion photographer Prescott McDonald discovered his talent.