To celebrate Africa Day, the Los Gatos nonprofit AWỌ is debuting an art exhibit in San Francisco titled “Unhindered Pairings.”
The free exhibition is a collaboration with cultural collective Afriicionado and radio station KALW 91.7 FM.
The exhibition will debut on May 2, from 5–9pm, at the KALW Gallery (220 Montgomery St., San Francisco), and will return for an encore on May 16 (same time and location).
Visitors can expect vibrant visual art, live performances and interactive networking opportunities with local artists and creatives.
“At AWỌ, we believe awareness, education, and connection can spark collective action and healing,” said Folake Phillips, AWỌ’s founder and executive director, in a release. “‘Unhindered Pairings’ is an invitation to experience art as a powerful tool for change.”
Spanning two months, the exhibition combines physical works, AR/VR experiences and soundscapes rooted in the pulse of Afrobeat music, while engaging themes of climate change, innovation, heritage and cultural pride.
The featured work draws inspiration from the Silicon Valley Pain Index, a report by the San José State University Human Rights Institute, which spotlights disparities in housing, digital access and mental health in the region.
“This exhibition embraces the unconventional, drawing from the overlooked and the unexpected,” said Phillips. “Through art, we transform struggle into communal learning—and where there is pain, there must also be joy.”
AWỌ has planned a $50 dinner at the History Club of Los Gatos for May 24, which will feature Nigerian Yoruba folk ensemble (now based in Fremont) Daniel Royal Group, addresses by Santa Clara County District 5 Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga and Los Gatos Mayor Matthew Hudes, and authentic West African cuisine.
On May 25, AWỌ will hold a free Africa Day celebration at St. James Park in San Jose.
It will feature the Anambra State Cultural Association of Nigeria sharing traditional cultural experiences of the Igbo people of Nigeria, followed by a presentation from Julia Chigamba and The Chinyakare Ensemble, sharing traditional Zimbabwean culture.
It will close with a live Afrobeat performance by headline band RIDDIM EXCHANGE.
There will be food, drinks, vendor booths, and an educational augmented reality workshop.
