A Taste Of Africa: Emergency Food Truck Fund

In 1995, Malong and his mother Esther started "A Taste of Africa: Dream Cuisine" in South Berkeley. After 9 years of serving delicious Cameroonian food, they were forced to move due to rent increases. They then moved into a smaller unit up the street until 2010 when a fire caused permanent displacement. Through deep adversity, they kept pushing and tried to open a spot in East Oakland that didn't work out. Malong refused to give up on his dream of serving the people of The Bay his family's traditional Cameroonian recipes with a modern soul food twist and went to serving from under a tent on the weekends at Ashby Flea Market to make ends meet up until the 2020 pandemic. Since then, times have been very tough with family loss and family illness, and now Malong is alone in the business still grinding toward his goals. He's now serving rouge at Lake Merritt and his livelihood is based heavily on weather conditions and word of mouth.

Malong has been a major member of the community for decades. His upbeat infectious energy is felt in his immediate presence and tasted in his soul-warming food. He's also a big advocate for the houseless community here in Oakland. After serving food on the weekends, he heads to tent communities and gives the remaining food for free to people in need. No food gets thrown away.

"Any resources I get, I'm giving back to the community." - Malong

This fundraiser is to simply help Malong with A Taste of Africa get a food truck so he can take control of his dreams, establish stability, and take his cuisine to the next level. With a multi-part plan of selling his infamous hot sauce, signature ginger drink, treats from Cameroon, and eventually a brick-and-mortar... this is just the start. This fundraiser is to help a local business continue, grow, and thrive out of darkness into light. Please help bring this amazing West African dream cuisine to all the people of The Bay. Please help support someone who dedicated their life to modestly and humbly serving others.

"Having this truck will fill up the empty space in my life and can finally breathe again. I'll have access to provide to the people. I don't want to be a secret anymore. I will be out there healing the community with food one plate at a time." - Malong