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Rhythms of the Village, a black-owned cultural center was among many organizations affected by the raging wildfires in Los Angeles that have engulfed and decimated several structures.
A culture hub, Rhythms of the Village, suffered devastating losses, with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of instruments, artwork, and merchandise destroyed. Now, in a GoFundMe account set up to help them bounce back from the losses, Rhythms of the Village has managed to raise more than $105,000. The goal as cited on their campaign page is $250,000. In the description of the campaign, Rhythms of the Village writes:
"This wasn't just a business, but a home and a safe place for families and communities to join together. The owners have hosted huge communal festivals, workshops, and music circles with the core goal of creating community."
They urge people to donate so as to cover the costs for damages that they have had to incur due to the LA wildfires. They have further stated:
"The shop has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of instruments, art, paintings, merchandise, equipment, materials, and other items."
What is Rhythms of the Village?
Rhythms of the Village is a family-owned center of culture that has been serving the Los Angeles community since 2013. More than just a store, it is a vibrant focal point of African heritage, offering handcrafted garments, art, and cultural accessories that celebrate the richness of the diaspora. The shop has long been a gathering place for artists, musicians, and families, hosting workshops, festivals, and communal events that foster unity and creativity.
Beyond retail, Rhythms of the Village was known for philanthropy activity, West African drum and dance classes, Nigerian language lessons, and community initiatives like Fresh Fruit Saturdays.
Baba Onochie is the founder of Rhythms of the Village, and also its inspiration. A musician and storyteller based in North Pasadena and Altadena, he shares his passion for African culture through his work. He is an educator at California State University, Los Angeles, teaching African history and language. Originally from Nigeria, he arrived in the U.S. in 1969 as a bass player for the iconic Fela Kuti and remained in hte country to avoid the turmoil of Nigeria’s civil war. His experiences and heritage inspired him to establish Rhythms of the Village, to celebrate African traditions.
Onochie's son Emeka Chukwurah is the co-founder of Rhythms of the Village, while also running his own label called ODG (Only Do Good). According to Emeka Chukwurah, when speaking to PBS Social, the main purpose of the Rhythms of the Village store was:
“bringing people together, bringing all different people of all walks of life, different cultures together... We love Altadena because of its diversity and his community,”
Chukwurah remembered spotting flames rising in the East on the evening of Tuesday, January 7. By the next day, the store was gone. As his family fled south through the raging fire, he watched his hometown consumed by flames. Despite the daylight, Emeka recalls the sky being shrouded in darkness. He said:
"The smoke was so dense and black — it felt like midnight."
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The support on GoFundMe to rebuild Rhythms of the Village has been overwhelming and donations continue to pour in.
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