Born in Bukoba, Tanzania, Rose Luangisa came to the U.S. in 1987 and earned both a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and an MBA from IONA College. She got her start at African Family Day at Memorial Park in Mount Vernon (her U.S. hometown) and opened Luangisa African Gallery in 1996. 

Over the past 25 years, she’s showcased artifacts and other crafts at those fairs, festivals, trade shows and museum events which are symbolic of Africa’s rich cultural heritage, including: Afropunk, International African Arts Festival and Dance Africa! in Brooklyn; Essence Music Festival in New Orleans; Capital Jazz Fest in Maryland, African Festival of the Arts and Arts and Crafts at the DuSable Museum, both in Chicago, African World Festival in Detroit, Newport Jazz Fest in Rhode Island, the Harlem Fine Arts Festival, the Zora Festival in Florida and many other venues.

Rose’s mission has always been to make both artisans and customers happy, to preserve African culture and traditions, and to empower and connect its people across the world.