The Ark Movement
The Cultural Manifesto
This is not just a company. This is the Ark that carries a people’s memory. Born from decades of heritage, resilience, and vision — the Ark stands as a sanctuary for culture, wealth, and future generations.
Built on Legacy & Trust
20+
Years of Leadership
100K+
Years of Leadership
17+
Years in Culinary Arts
2005
Founded
Founded in 2005 (Foundavilla + Cystabal), we have over 20 years of leadership in real estate, funds management, and cultural investment. XNatives, established in 2008, has spent 17 years shaping Nigeria’s culinary and cultural landscape. Together, these journeys have impacted hundreds of thousands of customers through dining, events, real estate, and cultural experiences.
2005
Foundavilla + Cystabal
2008
XNatives Established
Global Cause
The Ark Movement
Anchored on three pillars that guide our mission to preserve and elevate African culture for generations to come.
Discovery
Archives, festivals, cultural mapping
- Digitize 10,000 cultural archives
- Host regional heritage festivals
- Create interactive cultural maps
- Document oral histories
Preservation
Heritage vaults, culinary academy, IP protection
- Establish heritage preservation vaults
- Train 5,000 next-gen chefs
- Protect cultural intellectual property
- Create culinary masterclass programs
Elevation
Global expansion, ambassadors, partnerships
- Build international partnerships
- Appoint cultural ambassadors
- Host 50 flagship heritage events
- Expand to global markets
Join us in preserving culture, one generation at a time
Only 500 Ark Movement Guardians are accepted yearly
50
Years Experience
THE INSPIRATIONAL CHEF
Chef Iykelion
For 50 years, Chef Iykelion has cooked, taught, and preserved Africa’s taste memory. He embodies our heritage in motion: a storyteller, mentor, and innovator who has dedicated his life to ensuring the flavors of our ancestors live on.
Through every dish, he weaves stories of tradition, resilience, and cultural pride. His kitchen is not just a place of cooking—it’s a living archive, a classroom, and a celebration of African culinary excellence.
Private Chef Events
Exclusive culinary experiences
Masterclasses
Learn from 50 years of expertise
Cultural Food Tours
Journey through Africa’s flavors
Mission
To preserve, protect, and elevate African culture so it thrives in every generation
Vision
By 2050, every African child will inherit their culture intact — as valuable as gold.
Our Objectives
Building the Future One Milestone at a Time
10,000
Cultural archives digitized
5,000
Next-gen chefs trained
50
Flagship heritage events hosted
Culture is the invisible thread that connects us to our ancestors and our descendants. It is our duty to keep it unbroken.
LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
The Circle of Guardians
A diverse collective of visionaries united by a common purpose: to preserve and elevate African culture for future generations.
Entrepreneurs
Business leaders and investors
Innovators
Technology and creative pioneers
Elders
Wisdom keepers and cultural advisors
Cultural Leaders
Heritage preservationists and educators
Global Advisory Board
Guided by world-class experts across multiple disciplines
International Business Strategy
Culinary Arts & Gastronomy
Heritage Preservation
Investment & Finance
Cultural Anthropology
Digital Archiving
CG
Circle of Guardians
AB
Advisory Board
AM
Ark Movement
Voices of the Ark
Stories From Our Community
Real experiences from people preserving their heritage
Scarcity
Only 500 Guardians accepted yearly
Authority
20+ years of proven excellence
Legacy
For your children and their children
Impact
Join 1,200+ global guardians
Join Us So Your Children Will Not Forget Who They Are
The Ark is waiting. Your place in this movement is not just a membership—it’s a covenant with the future. Be part of the generation that saved our culture.
“Life-changing experience”
4.9/5
Average Guardian Rating
45+
Countries Represented
Preserving African culture for future generations. A sanctuary for heritage, wealth, and legacy.
guardians@arkmovement.org
guardians@arkmovement.org
guardians@arkmovement.org
Movement
- Join as Guardian
- Our Mission
- Leadership
- Events
Experiences
- Private Chef Events
- Masterclasses
- Food Tours
- Cultural Archives
Resources
- Manifesto
- Blog
- Press Kit
- Careers
- Built with heritage. Powered by legacy.
