Abdoulaye Thiam, a 78-year-old Senegalese tailor, is a central figure in Harlem’s “Little Senegal” community. Based on 116th Street, Thiam serves as a living link to the area’s Senegalese heritage and a pillar of support for its residents. A self-taught tailor, his career has spanned decades and intersected with notable figures from diverse fields. He has notably worked with the Jackson Five, former French President Jacques Chirac, and fashion icon Dapper Dan. Thiam’s shop is more than a business; it’s a cultural hub and a repository of memories for the Senegalese diaspora in New York City. His life story exemplifies the enduring connections between Senegal and its communities abroad.