Isaac “Zack” Mnguni, an events curator has launched Rooted in Joy, a space for joy, healing, presence, and connection. The new venture is something Mnguni has carried for a while, with clear intention on creating something deeper than just an event.
It’s something he says he wishes he had growing up, a space where being soft, spiritual, expressive, and whole as a black man felt not only safe, but celebrated.
Rooted In Joy aims to create soulful, culturally grounded experiences that make people feel alive again. “For me, joy has always been sacred. It’s how we recover, how we remember who we are, and how we hold each other through life’s chaos. It’s a return to self, to nature, and to community. Personally, it means everything. It’s the vision I’ve been waiting for the courage, clarity, and peace to build. Now that l’m a father, a husband, and more grounded in who I am, I see the urgency of creating spaces that heal and I’m committed to growing this vision with heart, community, and purpose,” he explains.
Mnguni strongly feels wellness should be in places where people live, celebrate, and express themselves. “So often, wellness is boxed into something quiet, exclusive, or disconnected from real life. But I believe joy, movement, music, community-that’s wellness too.”
Through Rooted in Joy, Isaac has connected with other great minds who share the same vision, one of them being Lesego Mapeka, the founder of Epic Hikes, who is also a partner in this venture.
Mnguni believes purpose and profit can coexist and fuel each other. “While I’m deeply passionate about the healing and joy we create through Rooted in Joy, I’m also very clear that this is a business. For the vision to be sustainable, it needs to support itself and me in the long run. I can’t pour from an empty cup unfortunately. So while I’m building community, l’m also building a business model that allows this movement to grow without draining me.”
“I’m building a community that celebrates life to the fullest, intentionally, and with presence.”
“Our experience usually begins with a contemplative hike led by Lesego. It’s not just a physical walk it’s a space for vulnerability, self-reflection, and unlocking the parts of yourself that often get ignored in the noise of daily life. From there, we move into breathwork, meditation, and gentle yoga-each moment designed to help people release, ground themselves, and open up,” he explains what a ‘Rooted in Joy’ experience is like.
“And then, we celebrate. With nourishing food, music, dance, and shared laughter. It’s about wholeness-moving from stillness to celebration, we create spaces where anyone is welcome, as long as they come with intention and a willingness to be present.”
“Rooted in Joy is about reminding people especially men that it’s okay to feel, to slow down, to seek joy that isn’t tied to money, status, or appearances. Those things are glorified in our culture, but they don’t heal you. They don’t sustain you,” he said adding that he believes God planted this vision in him to help shift that.
“We’re not just creating aesthetic experiences; we’re creating meaningful ones. That means the creative elements can’t be random they need to guide people into a certain state of being. Joy, calm, reflection, celebration. Even in the future, as we collaborate with different artists, wellness practitioners and storytellers, the brief will always come back to: Does this align with our purpose? Does this help people feel something real? So while the creativity will continue to evolve, the core will remain the same soulful storytelling, rooted in intention,” Mnguni added.
Working in the events space highlighted just how needed these kinds of experiences are for Isaac. It’s showed him that people aren’t just looking for entertainment anymore but are craving depth, connection, and spaces that feel intentional.
“It starts with the experiences but that’s just the beginning. I’m building an ecosystem around wellness that feels accessible, culturally relevant, and aspirational. The goal is to create a lifestyle Rooted in Joy. However, this needs to be backed by smart business decisions, collaboration, and long-term thinking. Purpose and profit don’t have to live apart. I believe they can and should fuel each other.”
I want people to leave feeling present like they were fully in the moment. Whether it’s through movement, connection, nature, or simply sharing a moment with someone new, I want them to walk away feeling filled spiritually, emotionally, and energetically. Forget about your problems for a moment and just feel open.”
