Mama Africa is a bold and vibrant community-driven charity dedicated to empowering refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and the wider society to build a more inclusive, just, and self-sufficient world. We are more than a support organisation — we are a movement.

Our mission is to bridge cultures, break down barriers, and create lasting pathways for belonging, healing, and democratic participation. From local streets to global stages, we champion the voices of those often pushed to the margins.

Mama Africa began in Bari, Italy, when a group of refugees — survivors of war, persecution, and the deadly journey across the Mediterranean — met in a reception centre. Out of pain, they found purpose. They told their stories using theatre, dance, poetry, and music and sparked powerful conversations between migrants and local communities.

At a time when migration was framed by fear and division across Europe, Mama Africa offered something different: a platform for authentic dialogue, shared creativity, and community healing.

                         🌱 OUR VALUES

• Transnational and Local: We work across borders — both geographical and ideological — believing that meaningful change begins locally but must echo globally.
• Non-Eurocentric Thinking: We embrace global knowledge systems and diverse cultural perspectives to shape inclusive and innovative solutions.
• Diversity as Strength: Inclusion isn’t an add-on; it’s the foundation of resilience, creativity, and social progress.
• Co-creation and Participation: We do nothing for communities without doing it with them. Participation, voice, and leadership are key.
• Learning Through Experimentation: We take risks, explore, and adapt. We’re not afraid to challenge the norm — because transformation requires imagination.

Mama Africa is a space of hope, resistance, and renewal.
We’re here to walk alongside those on the margins — refugees, migrants, seekers of justice — and together, create a future where everyone belongs.

 OUR IMPACT

Since 2010, Mama Africa has stood at the forefront of reimagining how societies respond to migration, identity, and inclusion. We believe that the challenges facing migrants and refugees cannot be understood — or solved — in isolation. That’s why we work to create a culture of shared responsibility, where every person’s dignity, voice, and freedom is protected, regardless of race, origin, faith, or sexual orientation.

Our impact is both local and global. From grassroots projects in Italy to partnerships across Europe, Mama Africa creates space for migrants, refugees, and locals to come together, share experiences, and build solutions that promote active citizenship, social justice, and diverse, democratic communities.

We’ve organised powerful public events — from citizen panels and storytelling festivals to creative campaigns and multilingual media platforms — that empower migrant voices and advocate for real political participation, including the right to vote.

Our work is rooted in art, education, and advocacy, and always guided by the belief that inclusive societies are stronger societies. We regularly collaborate with youth groups, migrant-led initiatives, cultural organizations, and local democracy movements to ensure that no one is left out of the conversation.