As a non-profit multi-cultural arts organization we are dedicated to promoting, presenting & preserving the African Diaspora & Indigenous cultures of the world through Music, Art, Dance, Multi-Media Arts, Education, and STEAM Research. We are the home of 101.1FM KVIB, a low-power FM station operated by WorldBeat Center and Positive Hope. We are located in beautiful Balboa Park in the heart of San Diego, California. Through consciousness raising the WorldBeat Center promotes peace within our San Diego community by providing on-going programs and services that nurture the spirit of children, the elderly, and everyone in between. Our main goal is then to create unity within diversity.
Explore some of our Featured Pages
Sustainable Building
Recent Activity at WBC!
Batizado, Capoeira Angola Graduation by Makeda Cheatom
On October 25th, 2025, the WorldBeat Cultural Center hosted Batizado 2025, a powerful celebration of African Brazilian heritage and the living tradition of Capoeira. Led by Mestre Preto Velho (Dennis Newsome), the ceremony brought together Grand Mestre Touro, Mestre...
SoCal Bird Nerds and WorldBeat Cultural Center Bring Community Together Through Birding by Berenice Rodriguez
On Sunday, December 14th, SoCal Bird Nerds and WorldBeat Cultural Center gathered for a refreshing morning of birdwatching along the Harriet Tubman Trail. A classic San Diego winter morning—foggy, cool, and comfortable—set the tone as about 25 participants came...
WorldBeat Cultural Center Celebrates 45 Years of Kwanzaa With Four Nights of Community and Culture
WorldBeat Cultural Center will host its 45th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration from Friday, December 26 through Monday, December 29, 2025, honoring four of the seven days of the African American holiday. All events are free and family-friendly, with doors opening nightly at...
Pausing with Toyon by Cindy Saylor
My morning walks in the small urban canyon near my home have recently transformed. The beautiful red berries of Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) also known as California Holly Berry have appeared. An evergreen shrub, in the Rose family (Rosaceae) Toyon shines bright...
Herbal Traditions for Winter Wellness by Cindy Saylor
Longer nights. Shorter days. As we move into the hustle and bustle of November and December the natural world slows, and turns inward. Modern humans have a tendency to forget the parts of winter that don’t work with our schedules. Celebrating and feasting - YES,...
Summer Camp 2025
WorldBeat Center's summer camp programming for 2025 was a vibrant and enriching experience for participants, blending creativity, wellness, and cultural education. Kicking off in June with Miss Monie and Diva Works Dance, this year’s camps featured a dynamic mix of...
Peppermint to cool and uplift our spirits By Cindy Saylor
Peppermint to cool and uplift our spirits By Cindy Saylor, Peppermint is easy to grow, delightfully aromatic, uplifting to our spirit and cooling when we are overheated. A cup of Peppermint tea is beloved in many cultures and traditions. In these times when our hearts...
Watermelon Fasting: Reclaiming Health and Cultural Significance by Makeda Cheatom
At the height of summer, few fruits capture the spirit of the season like watermelon. Juicy, hydrating, and naturally sweet, watermelon is more than a treat—it's a powerful tool for health and a deeply symbolic fruit that carries a complex cultural history, especially...
Honoring the Legacy of the Gee’s Bend Quilters by Makeda Cheatom
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is proud to honor the incredible artistry and legacy of the Gee’s Bend Quilters—Black women from the isolated community of Gee’s Bend (now Boykin), Alabama, who have transformed humble materials into world-renowned works of art for...