AfroMundo Festival: “Food is Power: Cultivating Community”
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
7:00 pm
NHCC | Salón Ortega
2026 AfroMundo Festival: “Futurism: Manifesting the Envisioned”
Featured Regions: U.S. & U.S. Territories: Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Mariana Islands
Panel discussion followed by a Q&A. Panelists include Samoan Chef Devynne Fuga Ah-Mai, and Puerto Rican Chef Pau Rocío. Moderated by Dr. Belinda Deneen Wallace, Director of UNM’s Liberal Arts and Integrative Studies Program.
The 2026 AfroMundo Festival is free to the general public with limited seating and includes films, concerts, literature, oral traditions, panel discussions, culinary and other arts to foster a greater understanding of our shared humanity. Learn more at afromundo.org.
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Panel discussion with:
Chef Devynne Fuga Ah-Mai is a community-rooted chef, entrepreneur, and founder of Samoa Food Security, an initiative dedicated to preserving Samoan food traditions while addressing the urgent need for accessible, healthy, and locally grown food. Through her work, she bridges culinary arts with community well-being, hosting food demonstrations, cultural events, and educational programs that uplift local farmers and promote sustainable food systems in American Samoa. Her culinary storytelling highlights the connection between heritage, health, and the environment, making food not just nourishment but also a vehicle for cultural preservation and resilience. As a recipient of Creative West’s Pacific Jurisdiction Artist Fund award, Chef Fuga continues to champion the intersection of art, food, and culture to strengthen her community’s future.
Puerto Rican Chef Pau Rocío is a culinary artist known for conscious, sustainable, and Afro-Antillean cuisine, offering personalized dining experiences, often through her private chef services, focusing on flavorful, creative, and story-driven dishes, as seen on her Instagram @chefpaurocio and website chefpaurocio.com. She started her professional journey around 2019, working in various hotel roles, and now emphasizes food that tells a story.
MODERATOR: Belinda Wallace