Today we’d like to introduce you to Warapisseme Mouta
Hi Warapisseme, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Prince Warapisseme Mouta, but most people know me as Wara. I’m originally from Togo, and now I call Minneapolis home. One of the things I value most is connecting with my community. Bringing people together and celebrating African culture has always been a passion of mine, and over the years, I’ve found different ways to contribute to that mission.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Control, and Accounting, with a focus on management. While my academic background is in finance, my love for event organizing started early. During my college years, I managed and hosted various events, gaining hands-on experience in the industry. I was actively involved with Lomé Kids Fashion and Festimuz in Togoville, which gave me a strong foundation in cultural event planning.
Since 2021, I’ve been working with Joubel from Afromaha, assisting him and the team in organizing events like Afro Fest Omaha, the Afro Excellence Gala, and the African Fashion Show Omaha. Year after year, I invested more time into the organization because I saw how important these events were, not just for entertainment but for building a stronger community and showcasing the beauty of African culture.
Every year, I noticed a significant number of people from Minnesota traveling with me to attend Afro Fest Omaha. That sparked an idea: why not bring the festival closer to them? After talking with Joubel, we decided to expand Afro Fest to Minnesota. In 2024, we launched the first-ever Afro Fest Minnesota, and it was a huge success. Now in 2025, we’re gearing up for the second edition, and I couldn’t be more excited. At the same time, I also helped launch Afro Fest Dallas last year. Today, Afro Fest by Afromaha has expanded into five major cities: Omaha, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, and Minneapolis.
Before that, in 2019, I was part of the Togo Culture Link-Up team, further strengthening my passion for cultural event planning. Through my experiences, I developed a deep love for organizing events and helping others bring their visions to life. That passion led me to create MN Diversity Experience (MNDEX), an event company dedicated to bringing people from different cultures together to celebrate and embrace diversity in Minnesota.
Beyond event planning, I love dancing and playing soccer, both keep me connected to my roots and my community. Today, I continue to work with Afriketoile and other major event organizations, using my skills to uplift culture, create unforgettable experiences, and strengthen our community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to launching Afro Fest Minnesota in its first year has certainly been bumpy, as expected with any new event. However, I was able to leverage the five years of experience with Afro Fest Omaha, gaining invaluable insights and strategies to navigate the process. That said, every city and state has its own unique set of challenges. One of the significant hurdles was getting familiar with the specific city processes, especially when it came to assisting small businesses with obtaining the right permissions—particularly food vendors, which required extra attention.
As with many startup ventures, much of the cost for the festival was out of pocket, just like in the early days of Afromaha. This year, however, the team is hopeful for increased sponsorship involvement. With the support of partners like Afromaha, House of Bah, the Minnesota Department of Education, and the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage last year, the festival is aiming for even more substantial sponsorships to ensure a seamless experience for attendees. We are focused on making this year’s edition even better, with less of the financial burden falling on our shoulders and more collaborative support to elevate the event.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a dancer and choreographer with Afrocontigbo, an African Contemporary dance group based in the Twin Cities, MN. Our mission is to promote wellness, cultural appreciation, and community engagement through vibrant dance performances and movement-based exercises.
My work focuses on blending traditional dances with contemporary influences, creating performances that celebrate African heritage while making cultural expression accessible to a broad audience. I take pride in using dance as a tool for storytelling, connection, and empowerment.
What sets me apart is my commitment to not only preserving traditional dance forms but also evolving them in a way that resonates with modern audiences. Through Afrocontigbo, I have had the privilege of fostering cultural awareness, bringing people together through movement, and inspiring others to embrace dance as a means of wellness and self-expression.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I owe so much of my success to the amazing people who have supported, mentored, and believed in me every step of the way. A huge shout-out to the Afromaha and ODEXP team: Jenny, Judy, Ayite, Abou, Audry, Koko, Dj Bez, my sister Nadia and her Husband Epiphane. Your unwavering support has made all the difference, and I can’t thank you enough for always being there when needed.
Special thanks to Joubel for his mentorship. Working alongside him has been an invaluable experience, and I am grateful for his guidance, wisdom, and trust in me. His challenge to always strive for excellence has pushed me to go above and beyond, and I truly appreciate the faith he has in me.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my family, my children’s Jacob and Jesse and especially my beautiful wife, Madel Mouta. From day one, she has been my rock, making countless sacrifices and standing by me through it all. I’m beyond blessed to have her by my side thank you for everything ” mon petit croissant”.
A big thank you to my Afriketoile partners: Junior, Rolland, Klod, and Toyi for your hard work and dedication to investing in our community. I’m honored to be part of this journey with you.
To my fellow Afrocontigbo dance partners—Korma ( CEO, Nigeria), Elsie (Togo), Elvina (Togo), Dede (Togo), Fanta (The Gambia), Vivian (Cameroon), Sifa (Kenya/RDC), Kemi (Nigeria), Wisna (Haiti), Abe (USA), Kia (USA), and Cam Joy (USA), thank you for your continued support and inspiration. You are all amazing, and I’m incredibly proud of everything we’re doing together.
And to my extended family, friends, my soccer team Togolese Heritage of Minnesota, my Kizomba Minneapolis familly, and all my supporters, you’ve played an essential role in my growth and success. Your encouragement has inspired me to be the best version of myself and pushed me to reach new heights. I don’t take any of you for granted, and I’m so grateful our paths crossed.
As I always say, ‘Ce n’est que le début du commencement’, we are just getting started, and I couldn’t be more excited for what lies ahead. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afrofestmn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Afrofestminnesota
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@afrofestminnesota
