09/14/2026
Oakland is a destination for the sounds moving the world. 🎶🌍
From Afrobeats and Amapiano to reggae, dancehall, Latin music, hip-hop and R&B, Zanzi has become a downtown Oakland hub where African, African American, Caribbean and Latin cultures meet on the dance floor.
In this conversation with Zanzi owner Mek, he reflects on opening the independent venue in 2021, bringing international artists such as Uncle Waffles, DJ Maphorisa, Tyler ICU and Major League Djz to Oakland, and navigating the economic pressures and unequal scrutiny facing nightlife businesses that serve Black and Brown communities.
“Oakland doesn’t rebuild its downtown by having fewer reasons for people to come here. We rebuild it by creating more.”
Read “Zanzi: Oakland’s house of African and Caribbean music” by JR Valrey at the link in our bio.
What artists or sounds do you want to see more of in Oakland? Drop them in the comments. 👇
AfricanMusic CaribbeanMusic Dancehall BayAreaMusic BlackOakland BlackCulture EastBay DowntownOakland IndependentVenues SFBayView
ZANZI
JR Valrey Leah Harmony
