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“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
– Desmond Tutu
“In Los Angeles, everyone is a star!” —Denzel Washington
CEO & Founder
Mara Diakhate is a world traveler, entrepreneur, and pan-Africanist, who serves as the CEO and Founder of Da’African Village. His mission is to share the rich culture and traditions of West Africa with the rest of the world through education and cultural programming. He is also the author of “Talking Wolof with Da’African Village” a comprehensive book that helps those traveling abroad communicate more effectively with the people of West Africa.
Board of Directors/Vice President
Sunny Moore is from Los Angeles, California where she is well-known in the conscious community as a social activist and dancer. Sunny also works in the film industry in production and as a casting director.
Due to her political awareness and passion for global history and culture, she is an avid traveler and has been to several countries in South America, Africa, and Asia.
Board of Directors/Secretary
Born in Indiana and raised in Senegal, Buna has lived for extensive periods of time in Senegal, France, and the US. He holds a BS in Engineering Mechanics & Astronautics and works as an Aerospace Engineer for French-US-based company Zodiac Aerospace.
Buna’s passion for the arts has led him to become actively involved in the local community and promotes events via his online publication Wolof Times, which also staffs reporters across states. Buna contributes a sense of multiculturalism, social and political awareness to our organization to help further strengthen the bond between Africa and its diaspora.
Board of Directors/Coordinator
Originally from Senegal, West Africa, Jordan studied four years on a full ride scholarship for basketball. He has a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. Jordan also speaks three European languages: French, Spanish, and English as well as two African languages: Wolof and Diola. Jordan helps coordinate various events for Da’African Village in LA and also conducts educational presentations on Senegalese culture.
Board of Directors
Dandha da Hora was born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, and has been a member of Ilê Aiyê – one of Brazil’s most important musical and cultural institutions – since she was six years old. As a lead dancer with Ilê Aiyê, Dandha has shared the stage with Brazilian artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Daniela Mercury. Also with Ilê Aiyê, she has been teaching dance and Afro-Brazilian arts for over 20 years, including programs with at-risk youth, and dance workshops all over the world. Based in Santa Cruz, CA, Dandha teaches dance workshops and lectures on Afro-Brazilian culture all over the US and performs as lead vocalist with the band SambaDá.