Makeda Dread: Shaping San Diego’s Reggae Legacy
Makeda “Dread” Cheatom secured a 25-year lease for the WorldBeat Cultural Center in August, ensuring the venue’s future and paving the way for planned improvements, according to reporting from KPBS on December 5, 2024.
For three decades, Cheatom has been a central figure in San Diego’s cultural landscape, founding the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park after transforming a former water tower. She also founded Prophet International Vegetarian Restaurant in 1971, the first vegetarian restaurant in San Diego, which attracted a diverse clientele including celebrities like George Harrison and Dick Van Dyke, as detailed in a Wikipedia entry last updated in October 2025.
Cheatom’s influence extends beyond culinary innovation and cultural centers. She is credited with bringing reggae music to San Diego, staging her first reggae concert in 1980 after developing a friendship with Bob Marley. This connection led to the organization of annual Bob Marley Day Festival concerts, attracting prominent reggae artists and resulting in the production of 39 annual reggae festivals, as reported by San Diego Magazine.
The WorldBeat Cultural Center, under Cheatom’s leadership, is currently undergoing a period of expansion. A $1 million grant will fund essential repairs and latest improvements, including the creation of a dedicated museum space focused on African art and culture and a media studio for young people to learn audio and podcasting production. Cheatom intends to offer leadership classes centered on kindness and reciprocity, believing these values are essential in countering negativity, as reported by KPBS.
Cheatom’s entrepreneurial spirit also led to the founding of The Baobab in 1981, an African crafts and cultural center in the Golden Hill area of San Diego. She has also hosted the radio show “Reggae Makossa” for over 30 years. According to her Wikipedia entry, Cheatom was born in Paducah, Texas in 1942 and moved to San Diego as a child when her father was stationed at the San Diego Naval Air Station.
In addition to her perform in San Diego, Cheatom co-founded Casa del Tunel in Tijuana, Mexico. She also created the Children’s EthnoBotany Peace Garden, further demonstrating her commitment to cross-cultural understanding and community engagement.
Cheatom, as Executive Director and Founder of the WorldBeat Cultural Center for 30 years, has produced programs and presented artists from a wide range of cultural genres, receiving numerous awards for her service to the community, according to the WorldBeat Center’s official website.
Cheatom is currently working on a budget for the coming year, with plans to expand the center’s offerings and impact, whereas continuing to advocate for kindness and cultural exchange.