Our Founder

Welcome to Aduna!

My name is Coumba Diouf and I’m the passionate founder of Aduna. I was born and raised in Senegal, in a small town nestled on the north bank of the Saloum river, where the rhythm of life moved with the sun and the stories told at dusk filled us with a sense of joy, curiosity and wonder.

One of my fondest memories of growing up is sitting beside my mother, under the wide-open sky, listening to her stories. My mother had something special. The accounts of love and courage, community and creativity, that she told, had a unique way of immersing me in the world of her childhood, community and ancestral village and filling me with sense of self. Those were my first lessons in self-love, self-respect, cultural identity, and the power of storytelling to uplift and connect. 

By founding Aduna in my vibrant city of San Francisco, California, I hope to give back to the city that’s nurtured me for decades. I aim to equip the local youth and communities with the same gift of storytelling and cultural empowerment I grew up in. 

At Aduna, we believe that the combination of the strength of tradition with the promise of innovation, can help spark change and ignite amazing results. Through our programs, we aim to create sustainable opportunities for youth and adults, while amplifying the stories, resources, and heritage that have always been at the heart of their lives.

Everything I do through Aduna is, in a way, a continuation of those childhood nights—a way of honoring my mother, and the countless women like her, whose stories are the roots of change.

Join us. Contact us. Follow us.