Concert

A FREE community event at Douglass Library in Chicago

Sunday November 17, 2024
Douglass Library
3:00 - 4:00 PM CST

We focus our concert initiatives on celebrating Pan-African art music compositions, raising awareness for this art music form, and bringing this rich musical form to our audiences in Cape Town, Chicago, Lagos, New York, and globally.

Our efforts also sit within the broader initiative to diversify the art music landscape and amplify the voices of underrepresented composers, music, and musicians in the performing arts. To achieve this, we commission new works and program existing works that draw on or are inspired by African/Afrocentric musical traditions and resources, processes, approaches, and elements such as rhythms, language, melodies, and harmonic ideas.

June 2024 - Chicago, IL, USA

Our Aféfé Àjoyò concert (Yorùbá for "wind of celebration") brought the grandeur of Pan-African art music to the Chicago community, immersing our audience in enchanting melodies, captivating rhythms and soul-stirring harmonies. 

Aféfé Àjoyò is more than just a title; it was a representation of the synergy between our mission and its connection to the vibrant culture of the Windy City. We brought Pan-African art music to Chicago as part of our goal to promote organic diversity and global accessibility, while creating a space for underrepresented composers

May 2024 - Chicago, IL, USA

The Taste of Nigeria concert marked the beginning of our presence in Chicago with a captivating journey into Nigerian culture. Our audience enjoyed an unforgettable evening of African music, cuisine and art.

Generously supported by Daniel Kumapayi's mother, an expert in Nigerian cuisine, guests savored traditional dishes prepared with love, experiencing the rich tapestry of flavors that define Nigerian cuisine. Accompanying the culinary delights were performances showcasing the vibrant beats and melodies of African music, including the world premiere of "Kòsólóko lóko" by Gabriel Adedeji. Attendees also had the opportunity to explore exhibitions of African art, celebrating the talent and creativity of the artistic community in Chicago.

November 2023 - New York, NY, USA

In 2023 Àkójọpọ collaborated with South African composer and singer Ongama Mhlontlo to present the premiere of Struggles and Hope: A Song Cycle at the International Human Rights Arts Festival (IHRAF) in New York City.

Mhlontlo engaged the audience in a unique musical conversation exploring the intersection of music, art and human rights. The cycle is an exploration of the South African contemporary reality as a post-Apartheid nation, inspired by freedom fighters like Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.

July 2023 - Lagos, Nigeria

The third edition of our annual concert, Orin Tuntun (New Songs), was held on July 23, 2023, at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center in Lagos. This concert initiative was prompted by the need to fill the gap between African art music performance, scholarship, and the quest to promote this art form globally.

We commissioned new works from composers worldwide, including Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, the United States and Mexico. Our Grand Prize for Composition was awarded to Dr. Chukwuebuka Ozioko and Second Prize to Onche Rajesh Ugbabe.

The concert was a heartfelt tribute to Professor Bode Omojola, a true giant in African musicology. We celebrated his immense contribution, particularly his scholarship on African Art music, in a concert that followed the Paradigms and Encounters in African Musicology: Tributes to Bode Omojola symposium, a fitting honor for such a respected figure.

The concert and symposium were made possible through the generous donation of Dr. D.K. Olukoya.