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In this episode of Tradition Café, Ana Chavier Caamaño sits down with artist Nancy Johnson of Nancy Faye Designs to explore creativity, cultural heritage, and the unexpected connections art can reveal. From handmade jewelry and intricate pen-and-ink drawings to transformed found objects, Nancy’s work reflects a curiosity she now has the freedom to pursue in retirement.

For Nancy, the beads have something to say—and she listens. Their colors, shapes, and textures guide her jewelry designs, alongside influences from her West African ancestry and connection to Native American heritage. Rediscovering a forgotten Zentangle kit during the pandemic drew her in another direction, inspiring detailed works such as Balinese Boy and Costa Rica Mama.

“I’m not analyzing, I’m just creating,” Nancy says. Yet viewers recognize cultural and spiritual imagery in her work—including Taíno symbols she hadn’t consciously drawn. She reflects on the surprise of discovering what her art means to others, and the possibility that she’s a vessel for images whose significance she’s still uncovering.

Learn more about Nancy Johnson:

Facebook: NancyFayeDesigns IG: @nancy_faye_designs

Website: Nancyfayedesigns.com

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Support the show

Thank you for listening to Tradition Café. Visit www.traditioncafe.com for blog posts, news, and links, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for videos and updates.

Video Episodes on YouTube @Tradition_Cafe
Facebook: facebook.com/TraditionCafe
Instagram: @tradition_cafe
BlueSky ‪@traditioncafe.bsky.social‬

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In this episode of Tradition Café, Ana Chavier Caamaño sits down with artist Darrin Westmore for a conversation about art, identity, culture, and the memories that become part of who we are.

Darrin shares how his artistic journey began with graffiti and airbrushing before evolving into painting, and how his early experiences continue to influence the work he creates today. From his signature use of eyes, windows, and doors to his deeply personal piece Mi Rincón, Darrin explores how art can become a reflection of our memories, struggles, perspectives, and sense of belonging.

The conversation also explores Darrin’s experiences growing up between different cultures and communities, including his childhood in Mexico, his connection to Fillmore, and his experiences in the Caribbean. Through these places and memories, he reflects on the complicated feeling of having more than one place that feels like home—and sometimes feeling that something is missing from each.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: art isn’t just about what looks good. It’s about what makes us feel, remember, question, and connect. Darrin discusses how a color, shape, window, or pair of eyes can spark memories in someone else, turning a personal piece of art into something shared.

Learn more about Darrin Westmore:
Instagram: @darrinwestmore
Facebook: Darrin Westmore

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Thank you for listening to Tradition Café. Visit www.traditioncafe.com for blog posts, news, and links, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for videos and updates.

Video Episodes on YouTube @Tradition_Cafe
Facebook: facebook.com/TraditionCafe
Instagram: @tradition_cafe
BlueSky ‪@traditioncafe.bsky.social‬

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Tradition Café. Visit www.traditioncafe.com for blog posts, news, and links, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for videos and updates.

Video Episodes on YouTube @Tradition_Cafe
Facebook: facebook.com/TraditionCafe
Instagram: @tradition_cafe
BlueSky ‪@traditioncafe.bsky.social‬

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What does it mean to find home thousands of miles from where you were born?

In this episode of Tradition Café, Ana Chavier Caamaño sits down with Nigerian-born Afrofusion artist NKAN to explore the journey that brought her from Lagos, Nigeria, to Oakland, California—and how music, community, and unexpected acts of kindness transformed a new place into home.

NKAN shares the story behind her music, the meaning of her name, and the inspiration for her song "California Love." She reflects on the father who first encouraged her to perform, the decade she stepped away from music to raise her late sister's children, and the husband who reminded her that the world still needed to hear her voice.

The conversation also explores the role of Yoruba language and storytelling in her songwriting, why she describes her performances as "edutainment," and how growing up as an orphan inspired her lifelong commitment to helping orphaned children pursue an education.

This is a conversation about identity, belonging, resilience, gratitude, and using your gifts to create opportunities for others.

In this episode:

• What Afrofusion music is
• The meaning behind the name NKAN
• Growing up in Nigeria
• Moving from Lagos to Oakland
• The story behind California Love
• How family and community shape who we become
• Returning to music after a decade away
• Teaching culture through music and storytelling
• Supporting orphaned children through education

Learn more about NKAN:

Website: http://nkan.world/

Instagram: @nkanofficial

Facebook: Nkaneledua

YouTube: NkanMusic

TikTok: @nkan

X (Twitter): @nkan

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Tradition Café. Visit www.traditioncafe.com for blog posts, news, and links, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for videos and updates.

Video Episodes on YouTube @Tradition_Cafe
Facebook: facebook.com/TraditionCafe
Instagram: @tradition_cafe
BlueSky ‪@traditioncafe.bsky.social‬