top of page
WHCH_UCLA Newsroom.jpg

Who Are the Friends At Mafundi

Friends At Mafundi (FAM) is a coalition brought together by the leadership of Father Amde Hamilton of the pioneering Watts Prophets poets. FAM was formed to help sustain the history, culture, and traditions of the Watts neighborhood breathing new life into the artistic, educational, and historic resources of the community in partnership with existing organizations.

Watts city limits at incorporation and consolidation, c. 1940s. Photo Source: LA County GIS Data Portal

Our Mission

Friends At Mafundi (FAM) is a coalition formed to sustain the history, culture, and traditions of Watts.

Our Immediate Goals

  • prevent the demolition of the Watts Happening Cultural Center (aka Mafundi Building). UPDATE: a request for proposal for housing on the site was cancelled July 20, 2021

  • ensure it is granted deserving cultural designations. UPDATE: Sept. 2021 granted local designation. Oct. 2023 granted national register designation

  • oversee its preservation and restoration is ongoing with a Conserving Black Modernism grant and community engagement

Our Long-Term Goals

After achieving recognition of the site as a local, state, and national landmark, FAM will collaborate with the Watts community, professionals, and CD15 to develop a viable conservation plan for the building in lieu of demolition. Our desires include restoring the building to its former glory while expanding it to include an interactive exhibition space and digital archive showcasing the artistic, musical, literary, and dramatic heritage of Watts. We also hope to implement various educational and literary training programs using multidisciplinary arts that is unashamed of celebrating Black culture. The Mafundi Building, without altering its historic structure, has the ability to include spaces for appropriate community services such as local business enterprises and the operations of the renowned Watts Coffee House. 

bottom of page