Mwanzo Umeme Mpingo Maharibi began to fuse his experience in Afrikan dance with common sense and raw talent to create the beginnings of an effective self-defense system. Mwanso met Mwangazi and Jabali Wazuri, an historian, through The Temple of the Black Messiah. Here these 3 men laid the practical, theoretical and historical foundation of Vita Saana in 1973.

Vita Saana is Swahili for the Art of War. Mwanzo is well-known and respecting in the martial arts circle, and promotes pride among his students. Warriors who are willing to put blood, sweat, and tears in their art form become the best that they can be, in mind, body and soul.

Umeme Mpingo, Swahili for Black Lighting, students actively participate in tournaments and on average have no less than 30 trophies, many students totaling in the hundreds. Vita Saana Students are forms specialists, weapon artists, self-defense experts, breaking techniques, using glass, cinder blocks, and wood, but above all they are tacticians, skilled fighters.

Vita Saana is one of the most well known martial arts systems in the Philadelphia Area, established through demonstrations, seminars and out-reach classes.

Umeme, a self-taught martial artist, has brought new pride to may people in Philadelphia and introduced the Afrikan System of Martial Arts to thousands through his travels on the tournament circuit.

Vita Saana has earned Citations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia Honoring 20 years in 1993.