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Our Village
Masoka Village is more than just an event—it’s a journey that began with a dream to celebrate African heritage in a meaningful and immersive way. From its early beginnings as a simple idea to the hard work and dedication that brought it to life, the road has been anything but easy.
This page takes you through our story—how Masoka Village was born, the incredible efforts of volunteers who helped build it, the challenges we faced, and the resilience that keeps us going.
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In 2022, after months of preparation and community support, Masoka Village was set to welcome visitors for an unforgettable cultural experience. But nature had other plans. A devastating storm destroyed everything overnight. The road to rebuilding has been tough, but we are not giving up.
Today, we stand stronger than ever, determined to bring Masoka Village back.
Here’s how it all began.
How it all began
In 2017, Masoka embarked on a three-week university study tour in Malaysia, where she was deeply moved by the country’s rich cultural diversity. A traditional dance performance sparked a powerful conversation with her tutor, leading her to reflect on her own heritage.
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This experience ignited a deep curiosity within Masoka—she began exploring the traditional music, dance, and storytelling of her African roots. She was inspired to share these cultural treasures with the world.
Initially, her vision was to create a theatre production infused with traditional African song, dance, and storytelling. The performance would be accompanied by an exhibition of cultural artefacts, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the experience during intermissions. Over time, this exhibition concept evolved into something even greater—a fully immersive African village experience. And so, Masoka Village was born.
Read about our
humble beginnings
From humble beginnings...
In 1996, a war broke out in the Congo (DRC), forcing the family and community of Masoka to escape to a neighbouring country, Tanzania, where they were welcomed into a refugee camp. This camp was their home for the next eight years. To keep alive the children’s imagination and sense of “play”, stories were told around campfires at night—stories of where they came from, where they currently were, and where they were possibly headed. Stories were a means of protecting especially the children’s innocence, while also educating and preparing children and the youth for the realities of “life” ahead. Through stories, important information was conveyed, and a sense of identity and place was preserved, from one generation to the next, from one land to another.
Eight years after settlement in the refugee camp, Masoka and her family were granted protection by the Australian government and, in October 2005, they migrated to their third home in Australia, marking an end to their journey of homelessness—their journey as refugees. Then began a journey of cultural confusion and a terrible sense of displacement. Fifteen years later, Masoka Productions was born.
Trips back and forth between Australia and Africa—visiting family and friends in Africa, while also appreciating the richness of the multicultural Australian society—gave Masoka two lands to genuinely love and call home. Masoka Village is our celebration of this journey, taking you on an African "safari", and bringing Africa to your very doorsteps!
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Africa is coming to Adelaide!
Below is a picture of Masoka and her village friends, in the Lugufu Refugee Camp, in Tanzania
" It takes a village to build a village! "
Hear the drums!
Dance to the beat!
Get lost in the tale!