Southern African Community USA
Connecting Southern Africa. Celebrating Culture. Building Community.
“ We are one people, and our strength lies in our unity. ”
— Sam Nujoma
About Us
We work to elevate and celebrate Southern African Cultures by increasing the visibility, participation, and representation of Southern African communities in the Washington DC Metro area and across the United States.
10+
Years Serving the Southern African Community
16
Countries Represented
25+
Projects & Events Completed
1500+
Community Members Reached
Our Mission
The mission of the SACU is to unite all citizens, descendants and friends of Southern Africa in the USA through various activities and events, and to increase the visibility of Southern Africans in the USA whilst contributing to the overall development of the Southern African community.
“ It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in It. ”
— Nelson Mandela
Our Work in the Community
Our events across the DMV area promote cultural awareness by uniting Southern Africans and increasing the visibility of Southern Africans in our larger communities.
Southern African Connection
Founder & CEO
Our online platform where Southern African stories, people, places, and events come together – connecting our community across the region and beyond.
Ubuntu Festival
This award-winning festival is a celebration of Southern African culture. It brings people together through music, food, art, storytelling, and shared experiences inspired by the spirit of ubuntu.
Cultural Events
We showcase Southern African creativity through fashion and movement — from hosting our own fashion shows and featuring designers from the diaspora and across Africa. W’eve also brought the community together through African dance and Zumba events.
Social Events
We organize a number of social events throughout the year including picnics, dinners, networking meetups, and sporting activities to bring Southern Africans together to connect, relax, and build community.
Community Advocacy & Forums
We advocate for the needs of Southern Africans in our counties by pushing for fair access to community spaces. We’ve held workshops on navigating the job market and understanding immigration processes with community lawyers, and we’ve engaged government agencies — including lending our voice to petition the Department of Transportation for more direct flights to South Africa.
Food Security & Diaspora Community Support
We work closely with community partners to support the community with needed resources such as reliable access to food. Through coordinated outreach, shared distribution efforts, and ongoing support, we helped strengthen food security to ensure that vulnerable households in our community are not left behind.
Networking Events
We create welcoming spaces for Southern Africans to meet, connect, and build relationships both socially and professionally. Through a variety of events, we strengthen community ties and support meaningful networking across our diaspora.
Giving Back to Southern Africa.
We have supported Southern African communities on the continent by building a library, raising funds for disaster relief after flooding, and other projects together with our partner organizations.
“ No single person can achieve success alone; it is through the collective efforts of the community that we build lasting progress.”
— Joshua Nkomo
Our Proudest Moments
Each featured initiative or event showcases the impact of our collective efforts, reminding us how far we’ve come and inspiring the meaningful work still ahead. We are moving forward, together.
SACU News
Keeping you informed with stories, achievements, events, and announcements that matter to SACU & the Southern African community.
Our Recognition
We’ve been honored and recognized for initiatives that uplift our community, bring visibility to our stories, and champion inclusion in our larger community.
“ When we lift one another, we rise as a people – This is the spirit of Ubuntu. This is the spirit of SACU”
— Southern African Community USA