Who Are We & How Did We Get Here

Hi, my name is Mary Stuart Wannamaker! Most people call me Mary — or ‘Stu’ if you are from my family, hometown, or young adult years. As I started to connect more deeply with my purpose on the planet, becoming ‘Mary’ became increasingly resonate for my soul and divine feminine mission. Likewise, I do feel equally inspired by my double name, as ‘Stuart’; which, to me, embodies and hints to a conscious stewardship of loving responsibility and care for my home, businesses, communities, the earth, and our changing times globally. One of the most interesting and beautiful aspects of my last name Wannamaker is that it also turns out to be a Swahili, East African name. Who would have thought!? In fact, we now have family with the same first name who supports me, Eden, and our family. As someone dedicated to anchoring more of ‘Eden’ on Earth, looking back, I grew up going to my namesake’s lake house on ‘Waneden Lane’ (standing for Wannamaker’s Eden). Somehow, it all feels full circle since the very beginning.

I am from Charlotte, North Carolina (USA). I ended up moving to Madrid, Spain when I was 20, and to my surprise (almost) as much as anyone else, I never looked back — or might I say, never moved back, stateside. About a decade later, after a collective few years in Europe, a summer in Kenya, my first home out of college in Bolivia, South America and the second half of my 20’s in MENA (Middle East North Africa), I found myself in Tanzania, East Africa to close my 20’s and welcome in my 30’s. After landing in Zanzibar and later moving onto the mainland (first guided to Lushoto in the Usambara Mountains), I eventually found my way to a remote fishing village known as Ushongo Beach.

Even though it is just an hour and a half from the popular coast of Zanzibar, most people don’t know this stretch of East African beach exists. I feel grateful that this land has been preserved and hopeful that we will increasingly steward regenerative, conscious, collaborative possibilities together with our village. On the other side of the coin, my husband is from Ushongo Beach. We met on my first trip here over the end-of-year solstice, and though I felt a connection to both him and the community, it was to my own surprise (once again) that I felt the call to come back to Ushongo — and stay. Though I let him know I was coming, I was following my heart within a larger divine blueprint for my life. It was only in that faith walk of my surrendered ‘yes’ that I started to realize he may, indeed, be my husband.

At the same time, our daughter’s soul was interacting with my in spirit, and I knew that she was a big part of my purpose soon coming to pass — and then I realized it was Omary who shared this purpose of family, parenthood, and ascension with us. I had no idea that she was going to be a girl as I followed my heart’s call towards ‘The Garden of Eden’ as an ongoing theme and strong energetic guide at this point in my life. However, fast forward our love story, and Eden Anne joined us in the world November 2022.

Since, we have built a farm home, our local dhow, nestled as a family, started local work, incubated a business, and continue to forge a lifelong journey ahead that is full of prosperity, health, and love for our family, local community and global family. We hope you will join us in your heartfelt niche/wants/desires between all the we do and plan to do! We believe each of our hearts knows the way, and we encourage everyone to follow that spark of aliveness — let’s delve into more over an in-person or e-meeting.

Briefly Shared With Love as Umoja Ushongo’s Founder, Co-Director, and Biggest Cheerleader ┃ Mary Stuart Wannamaker ┃ Locally known as Mama Eden