Art, Jazz & Champagne 2026:
An Evening Maison AfriKin Will Not Forget
"Some evenings don't just happen. They arrive. And when they do, you feel it in the room before a single note is played."
On the evening of Sunday, March 22, 2026, Maison AfriKin at the Scott Galvin Community Center in downtown North Miami became something altogether extraordinary. What unfolded was not simply an event. It was a cultural homecoming, a sanctuary, and for many who were there, exactly what the moment demanded.
The evening carried the elegance of the finest jazz lounges — from the Blue Note in New York to the legendary rooms of Los Angeles. That spirit, that particular alchemy of art, music, and human connection, settled into every corner of Maison AfriKin and never left.
AfriKin: Art, Jazz & Champagne 2026 · Maison AfriKin · North Miami · March 22, 2026
Before the Music: The Gallery, the Champagne, the People
The evening transitioned from our all-women exhibition, featuring artists from Africa and the African diaspora whose works lined the walls of Maison AfriKin and gave the night its visual heartbeat long before the jazz room opened. Champagne poured freely. Laughter filled the galleries.
People who had never met found themselves in deep conversation, crossing every line of ethnicity and generation, bound together by the recognition that this was exactly what they needed. Intergenerational conversations unfolded organically. Strangers became familiar. The multiethnic audience was a true portrait of Miami at its finest.
Chef Abdul Mushin kept every guest satisfied with beautifully crafted AfriKin Tapas, while our mixologist Shaion ensured every glass was attended to with care and precision. The consistent thread through every exchange: this is just what I needed.
Into the Jazz Room
As the gathering moved into the Jazz room, I welcomed everyone home and reintroduced them to the reason AfriKin exists — and to why this particular evening holds such deep meaning for me and for our entire team. Then the music took over, and it said everything that words could not.
Ja'Nia and John had the room from their very first song. They moved through Jazz and Blues with effortless command, then brought Bob Marley into the mix without warning. The crowd laughed, sang, and felt something stir deep within. Emotions rose to the surface. People readied themselves, without quite knowing it, for what was still to come.
The Harden Project — Ja'Nia and John opening the evening
Ms. Leesa Richards and Marcus took the audience through the timeless standards of Nancy Wilson and Ella Fitzgerald. Champagne toasts punctuated the music. The saxophone kept the air perfectly moody. A multiethnic audience, a true portrait of Miami at its finest, kept asking for more. And more they received.
Leesa Richards & Friends — taking the audience through the standards
In true AfriKin fashion, Mustafa Wright offered a drum tribute to the ancestors. He reminded the audience of the drum's sacred role in African culture, of the healing frequencies it carries, and of its power to connect us to something far greater than ourselves. Then he invited the entire room in. Everyone drummed. Everyone sang. The night ended as it began: in community, in joy, in culture.
Mustafa Wright — a drum tribute to the ancestors closing the evening
The Art, The Stage & The Spirit · AfriKin: Art, Jazz & Champagne 2026
A Word of Gratitude
"Congratulations echoed throughout the night. I hold so much gratitude for a team that worked tirelessly to create a true jazz lounge experience at the Center, and the people confirmed: it was accomplished."
The people I want to celebrate most are the AfriKin team, who worked with tireless dedication to transform the Center into a genuine jazz lounge. They did not just set up a room. They created a world. The 2026 AfriKin: Art, Jazz & Champagne is another one for the record books.
Deep gratitude, as always, to the City of North Miami for their continued partnership and belief in the work AfriKin does every day to keep the culture of Africa and the Black world alive, elevated, and advancing in this city.
The Season Ahead — Reserve Your Place
AfriKin's 2026 calendar continues with intention and ambition. Each event is a chapter in the larger story we are building together about what African and diaspora culture means to the world right now.
About AfriKin Foundation
AfriKin Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the arts and cultural expressions of African origin to build bridges between personal creativity and the collective good of humanity. Opening creative pathways for learning, understanding, and economic development, AfriKin nurtures artists, educates communities, and promotes sustainable cultural industries that inspire global connection.
Support the Arts with AfriKin. Your donation directly supports artists, educators, and cultural programs that shape a more connected, compassionate world.
- Tax-Deductible Giving. AfriKin Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3); all contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
- Empowering Communities. Every event and exhibition funds educational initiatives, artist grants, and community wellness outreach — because art saves lives.
- Cultural Preservation. We promote African and diaspora creativity through mentorship, exhibitions, and international exchange, ensuring artists thrive across generations.
When you attend an AfriKin event, you are not just experiencing culture. You are investing in humanity.
Donate NowShape the Future of AfriKin
What do you think AfriKin can do better? What would you like to see more of in the seasons ahead? Your perspective shapes what we build next.
Share your thoughts at info@afrikin.org or leave a comment below.
In strategy and stewardship of culture,
Founder & Chairman, AfriKin Foundation, Inc.
Explore our year-round programming at Maison AfriKin and join us for the next event.
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