Taste of Nigeria

A Night of Food, Music & Culture and Fundraising

The 3rd Annual Taste of Nigeria: African Art Music Fundraiser Night will take place on Saturday, June 6th, 2026 at Connect Gallery in Hyde Park. Presented in partnership with Umu Igbo Unite (UIU), this year’s program celebrates Igbo music and culture while raising support for Àkójọpọ̀’s year-round initiatives in Pan-African art, music, education, concerts, and professional development opportunities.

Guests will be welcomed with a traditional kola nut experience, setting the tone for an evening rooted in cultural celebration, community, and connection. The event will bring together students, artists, professionals, and community members from across Chicago for an immersive cultural dining and artistic experience. The evening will also feature cultural performances highlighting works by Igbo composers, alongside access to the art exhibition on display at Connect Gallery.

Thank you to all of our community supporters, including Connect Gallery, Barry’s, Unan Imports, Dozzy’s Grill, Umu Igbo Unite (UIU), the Chicago White Sox, and more partners to be announced as the event approaches.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, June 6th, 2026
Time: 6pm to 8pm CST
Location: Connect Gallery, 1451 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615
Parking: Free street parking available
Dress Code: African-inspired attire is encouraged

Host - Zion Ali

Culinary Experience

The event features a tiered ticket system offering different levels of meals and experiences:

• Tier 1: Enjoy native rice with chicken, served with a soft drink or bottled water. This tier offers a warm introduction to the evening and is perfect for guests looking to experience the culture, community, and atmosphere of the event.
• Tier 2: Experience a deeper taste of Igbo cuisine with your choice of native yam porridge or oha/egusi soup served with yellow garri, along with a complimentary chapman/mocktail and one raffle ticket entry.
  
• Tier 3: Enjoy full access to all featured dishes of the evening, including okra & ugba soup with goat meat, light alcoholic beverages, and one raffle ticket entry, while supporting the continued growth of Pan-African arts and cultural programming.
  
  
  

Raffle Prizes

This year’s event includes exciting raffle prizes sponsored by local Chicago businesses. Each ticket tier includes a chance to win high-quality, locally sourced prizes that showcase the creativity and generosity of our community partners.

• Tier 1 - No raffle entry
• Tier 2 - One raffle entry
• Tier 3 - One raffle entry

Raffle winners will be announced during the event.

To learn more about our mission and view our impact, visit akojopo.org/pages/impact