History
Marafiki, Swahili for Friends AllMarafiki Arts co-founder Lucy Lau grew up in a community where the extended family plays a central role – economically, socially and politically. Her love for community development emerged from these early experiences.
In the Kamba tribe, little distinction is made between one’s children, nieces, nephews or neighbors’ children. Children address all adults as uncles and aunties. Adults welcome all children as their own, and children feel free to move from one household to another. Lau’s tribal experience nurtured her interest in helping communities of disadvantaged people.
Since graduating from the University of Nairobi with a bachelor’s degree in Design, Lau has spent more than 20 years working to provide economic opportunities for her community.
In 1992, under the sponsorship of USAID, Lau arrived in Philadelphia, PA to pursue professional training. It was during this period that she met Mary Roberts at the Fabric Workshop and Museum. Together they saw the opportunities for working with disadvantaged communities to promote sustainable economies.
Textile experts Lucy Lau-Bigham and Mary Roberts founded Marafiki Arts in 2003 and, in 2004, they welcomed textile expert Cynthia Porter as a member of the Board’s Executive Committee.
Marafiki Arts was formed in 2003 after Lau was invited to coordinate an apprentice-training program for disadvantaged inner city high school students at the Fabric Workshop and Museum and after an inspiring trip that Lau and Roberts took to Kenya to meet with the Kamba in Wote, Makueni Kenya.
It was Christina’s four-year-old daughter, Mary Graham, who named the organization Marafiki (Swahili for “Friends All”) after witnessing Lau’s and Roberts’ passionate conversations about their dreams for community development.
Marafiki Arts soon enlisted the artistic support of Cynthia Porter, a Philadelphia textile artist and sculptor, who was instrumental in Marafiki’s development. In 2007, Marafiki Arts became a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.