Student from Mali slain in Southwest Philadelphia

Mamadou Makadji had been in this country for less than three months, hoping to study business before returning to his West African homeland of Mali.

Although he had been taking an intensive English course, Makadji apparently was not yet versed in the language and rhythms of the Southwest Philadelphia streets.

That contributed to his death this morning.

Makadji, 22, was shot in Elmwood Park about 1:12 a.m. after he was too slow to grasp the commands of an armed robber, police and family members said.

The frustrated gunmen pistol-whipped Makadji and then shot him once in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania a short time later.

Makadji was staying with an uncle, Mame, who has lived in the United States for 17 years and owns a store nearby on Elmwood Avenue.

He said his nephew could not comprehend what was happening not only because of the language barrier, but because of cultural differences.

"In Mali, no one thinks about a gun for the people. You think about guns for the army. . . . You carry the gun for the animal," he said. "If you fight someone, you never think about the gun."

Makadji's father owns a bakery and other businesses in the Malian capital, Bamako, but the son was the first family member to earn to earn a high school degree, said Mahamadou Sissoko, president of the Malian Association in Philadelphia.

"His dad was willing to pay thousands of dollars for his education," he said. "The cost of an American university . . . is like millions in Mali."

French is the typical European language in Mali, so Makadji was learning English through a Temple University course before moving on to study business, probably at Camden County College. Makadji was going to finish his language course next week, his uncle said.

"Having a North American degree can open a lot of opportunities . . . for some people who want to make a difference in Africa," Sissoko said. "That's exactly what he wanted to do."

Makadji and two friends were sitting on a bench in the park, at 71st Street and Buist Avenue, when the gunman approached and "announced a robbery," said Philadelphia Homicide Capt. James Clark.

The two friends - also West African students - escaped unharmed. The gunman, who was described only as a black male with a dark complexion, did not take anything after shooting Makadji.

Sissoko said Makadji eventually did understand that he was being robbed.

"He was digging in his pocket for the money when [the gunman] hit him," Sissoko said. "The guy probably felt ignored."

Sissoko said there are several thousand Malian immigrants in the Delaware Valley, with about 700 to 800 living in Southwest Philadelphia.

Dozens of community members were gathered earlier today along Buist. Sissoko said they were trying to raise $7,000 to send Makadji's body back to his family for a Muslim burial.

"My nephew, he's a very, very quiet person. He never drinks, he never smokes," Mame Makadji said. "Wrong time, wrong place."

Anyone with any information is being asked to call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334, -3335, or -3336.