Mazikaa Enterprises Celebrates SWANA Culture in San Diego

Layan Amkieh's events aim to create community spaces for the Southwest Asian and North African diaspora.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:10pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of an iconic SWANA cultural object such as a hookah pipe or tea set, repeated in a tight grid pattern in the style of Andy Warhol, conceptually representing the diverse cultural expressions of the SWANA diaspora.Mazikaa Enterprises' vibrant events celebrate the rich cultural heritage of San Diego's SWANA community through music, food, and shared experiences.National City Today

Layan Amkieh, a Syrian woman who spent her formative years moving between multiple countries, started Mazikaa Enterprises with her sister Nour to curate spaces where the SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) community in San Diego can celebrate their cultures. Through monthly gatherings, Mazikaa has given people a chance to connect while highlighting SWANA music, food, and other cultural elements.

Why it matters

Amkieh felt the pressure to downplay her cultural and religious identity while growing up in Western spaces where SWANA voices were often sidelined or erased. Mazikaa aims to reverse that by creating spaces for authentic self-expression and community connection, especially as tensions rise and stereotypes about SWANA communities increase in the U.S.

The details

Mazikaa Enterprises organizes three core events: Mazikaa Nights, an intimate 'living-room-style' gathering with live music; Sounds of SWANA, an immersive listening session exploring Arabic musical history; and Our Neighborhood (حارة), an ambitious event that recreates the spirit of SWANA communities with live music, local vendors, food demonstrations, and other cultural activities. The events have been held at various locations throughout San Diego since 2023.

  • Mazikaa Enterprises started in December 2023 with what was intended to be a small, one-time event.
  • Mazikaa's next event is on April 25, 2026, as part of a collaboration with San Diego FC to host a SWANA tailgate at Snapdragon Stadium.

The players

Layan Amkieh

The co-founder of Mazikaa Enterprises, who started the events to create community spaces for the SWANA diaspora in San Diego after feeling the pressure to downplay her cultural and religious identity in Western spaces.

Nour Amkieh

Layan's sister, who co-founded Mazikaa Enterprises with her to curate spaces celebrating SWANA cultures.

Al-Akhbar (الأخبار)

Mazikaa's in-house band that performs live music at the Mazikaa Nights events.

San Diego FC

The soccer team that is collaborating with Mazikaa Enterprises to host a SWANA tailgate event at Snapdragon Stadium.

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What they’re saying

“There was this sense of responsibility that we are not doing this because people are bored and want something to do, but because this is an emotional lifeline for people and a recharge for leaders and community organizers.”

— Layan Amkieh, Co-founder, Mazikaa Enterprises

“The less you see people and interact with them, the easier it is for you to create assumptions or even be fed propaganda about them and believe it. What we do is reverse that by creating attachment. Because if you experience someone's culture versus consume it, you're more likely to connect with them, and now you have a concrete positive memory. That's the environment we're trying to promote.”

— Layan Amkieh, Co-founder, Mazikaa Enterprises

“Right now, we're defined by pain and by war. For many, these spaces have been a lifeline. Living so far from your homeland while witnessing it being actively destroyed and demolished, or worrying about family, friends, or even the land, is a very painful experience.”

— Layan Amkieh, Co-founder, Mazikaa Enterprises

What’s next

Mazikaa Enterprises' next event is the SWANA tailgate at Snapdragon Stadium on April 25, 2026, in collaboration with San Diego FC. Amkieh hopes this event can lead to more visibility and potential future events like heritage nights and platforming other SWANA talent.

The takeaway

Mazikaa Enterprises is creating vital community spaces for the SWANA diaspora in San Diego, providing a much-needed emotional lifeline and platform for cultural expression at a time when SWANA communities face increased stereotyping and marginalization in the U.S.