How it all began

All About

Taste of Africa®

Taste of Africa® was created to honor and uplift African and African Diaspora cultures through joy, learning, and authentic cultural expression. For years, the festival has served as a vibrant gathering space in the Bay Area, bringing together artists, families, cultural organizations, and global communities in shared appreciation of Africa’s rich and living cultures.

Rooted in collaboration and community, Taste of Africa continues to grow as a platform for cultural lovers, creators, and producers to connect, co-create, and amplify impact.

We invite artists, culture bearers, organizers, brands, and community builders who believe in the power of culture to join us.

Bring your voice, vision, and resources to help deepen the experience, expand the reach, and keep the spirit of Taste of Africa thriving for generations to come.

Cultural
Pride

Authentic
Representation

fair
Artist Pay

Inclusion
& Access

Community
Building

Our Humble beginnings

Our Roots

Cheza Nami Foundation was born from lived experience and a deep connection to African culture.

Its beginnings are rooted in Kenya, where its founder, Catherine (Ciiku), spent her early years in a rural village outside Nairobi in a home shaped by tradition, family, and community.

After immigrating to the United States in 2000, Ciiku recognized a growing need for spaces that honored African culture while inviting people of all backgrounds to learn through movement, music, and shared joy. Following the birth of her twins in 2007, Cheza Nami Foundation was established in Pleasanton with a simple but powerful mission: to introduce children and adults to African culture through interactive music and dance.

Cheza Nami’s programs, including Taste of Africa®, continue to carry this spirit forward, reminding communities that culture is a living exchange, and that music, movement, and open hearts are universal tools for connection and growth.