It was founded in 2003 in San Francisco Bay Area by label president and recording artist Jana Herzen.

Motema's roster includes Gregory Porter, Joey Alexander, Deva Mahal, Pedrito Martinez, Randy Weston, Geri Allen, David Murray, Monty Alexander, and Charnett Moffett, Donny McCaslin, Mark Guiliana, and Terri Lyne Carrington and many other respected artists in jazz, world and soul music.

A production company since 2003,[2] Motema was started by singer Jana Herzen to release her music,[3] starting with her debut album Soup's on Fire 1999 released before the label had landed international distribution.

[4] She chose "Motema" because it translates to "heart" in the Bantu language Lingala.

[4] The label was officially founded in 2003 in San Francisco, and moved to New York City in 2005.