OWNING OUR CULTURE
PANGO honors the enduring legacy of Afro-Cannabis culture rooted in Black communities worldwide.
For centuries, cannabis has been a symbol of resistance, liberation, and wellness in African traditions; empowering people to take control of their health and well-being while inspiring creativity and joy. It crossed the Atlantic with enslaved Africans, where it became a tool of survival and defiance amid colonialism and slavery.
Our name, PANGO; a term rooted in the African diaspora of 1800s Brazil, with origins in Central Africa—reflects this rich heritage and the historical injustices tied to criminalization. The phrase “Pito do Pango,” once used to describe cannabis in Brazil, carries Indigenous and African diasporic connections, illustrating its role as a shared cultural tradition across continents.
Today, cannabis remains a powerful symbol of liberation and economic opportunity. At PANGO, we explore its intersections with art, music, justice, healing, and futurism as we stand on the brink of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Through industrial, medical, and adult-use economies, cannabis holds the potential to drive pathways toward economic independence and innovation. By organizing and unifying across the African continent and diaspora, we can reshape what freedom looks like for our communities; and at PANGO, we are sparking that movement.
We collaborate with artists, innovators, and activists to celebrate this legacy and advocate for equitable policies and opportunities within the cannabis industry. By amplifying voices and reclaiming narratives, PANGO honors the resilience of our ancestors while building a future where our cultural expressions and traditions thrive.
Through storytelling, education, and community engagement, we are rewriting the mainstream narrative; reclaiming wellness, driving liberation, and creating economic possibilities that connect us all.
DIAMBA FOUNDATION
Our partnership with the Diamba Foundation is rooted in shared values of justice and cultural preservation. Together, we are working on the "Cannabis & Colonialism" project to explore the untold history of cannabis prohibition and its ongoing impact on communities worldwide.