FINDING IJEOMA

Austin is where we begin, and not by accident.✨ Founded as Austinville in 1865, Austin holds a long history of movement, public life, neighborhood pride, and cultural memory. It remains one of the West Side neighborhoods that makes clear how much history, creativity, and community are already here. We chose to begin here because Austin holds so much of what this first chapter is about: place, lineage, memory, and the people who keep all of that in motion. This activation is our way of asking people to spend time with Austin more intentionally and to encounter the neighborhood through its music, artists, and creative spaces. Join us May 22 and 23 for ‘Chicago Sonic Legacies’ 🎺 and Select Open Studios 🎨 Link in bio for tickets and RSVPs 🔗

We’re honored to share the first chapter of ‘A Westside Experience,’ produced by FINDING IJEOMA and NAOMI Projects. On Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23, we’re gathering in Austin for two days shaped by music, memory, storytelling, and creative exchange. Friday begins with ‘Chicago Sonic Legacies’ at New Sound Cafe, presented as part of the ‘Design By’ series by the Design Museum of Chicago (@designmuseumchi ) Aux Board. It will be an evening centered on Black gospel music and Chicago sonic history, bringing together a listening session, conversation, and live performance with featured guests, DJ Sonic Plum (@sonicplum ), photographer Kenn Cook (@bykenncook ), and Eva Supreme (@evasupreme444 ). The event uses sound to address how memory, archiving, and gathering spaces support Chicago communities in establishing and maintaining the cities and neighborhoods we love today. Saturday continues with Select Open Studios from 1 PM to 5 PM at Snowball Artist Studios. Built around timed studio activations, the afternoon invites people into artist spaces and creative environments that are part of Austin’s living cultural ecosystem, offering a more intimate way to encounter the neighborhood through the people making work inside it. Tickets and RSVPs are live at the link in bio 🔗 [Images sourced from Chicago History Museum] #awe #AWestsideExperience #AustinChicago #WestSideChicago #ChicagoEvents

How familiar are you with Traditional Igbo Hairstyles? 🌀 Dive deep into the hair stories of Igbo art + culture by following our new research series on FINDING IJEOMA (@findingijeoma ). Here, we celebrate heritage and recall the origins of common practices in everyday Black life by taking a closer look at home— West Africa. Our goal? To create a living archive of diasporic possibilities. What styles should we add to this list? ✍🏾 Let’s call them by their names.✨

Recent work from last month’s sonic textile installation ‘Blue Magic’ 🌀✨ presented at the American Folk Art Museum (@afamuseum ) in response to the exhibition, “An Ecology of Quilts: A Natural History of Textiles.” Organized by Curator of Programs, Mathilde Walker-Billaud (@mathilde__wb ) with indigo-dyed quilt work by Alexandria Eregbu (@alexandriaeregbu ) 📸 Jane Kratochvil Photography

This Saturday, February 21st! I am truly delighted to be in conversation with the brilliant, Dr. Chelsea Frazier (@amazon_scholar ) for ‘Blue Magic’ 🌀 a sonic textile installation presented by yours truly at the American Folk Art Museum (@afamuseum ) and their current exhibition, ‘An Ecology of Quilts: The Natural History of American Textiles’ between 4pm-5:15pm. This discussion will examine portions from my commissioned sound work + research on the color blue, quilts, and textile history to address origins, adornment, diaspora, and eco-mythologies. Stick around afterwards to experience my DJ performance (@findingijeoma ) and handcrafted textile environment fully activated from 6-7pm.✨ This program is curated by Mathilde Walker-Billaud (@mathilde__wb ) and is free + open to the public. RSVP + more information on the full schedule is in my bio 🔗 Special thanks to the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (@foundationforcontemporaryarts ) and their generous support of this program. 🖼️ Flyer design by me

⚡️The queen @findingijeoma set the vibes after our @beats.and.vibes_ panel discussion for @afrofuturistweekend 🔥. Catch the full mix and panel live on YouTube (link in bio).⚡️ #afrobang

Sunday’s Fela Tribute with Jazz Coffee Brunch (@jazzcoffeebrunch ) was a smashing hit. It was such a pleasure to be able to offer my DJ services for one of my favorite events in the city during Nigerian Independence Week 🇳🇬✨ Thank you to Stonefruit (@stonefruit_chi ) for sharing your wonderful gifts with all of us, to Mike for extending your brilliant curation to our city, and @hostecocktails for the hospitality! Major shout out to @uiu.chicago + @chimeasonye for grounding the event with opening remarks on mental health awareness, Okrika (@okrrrika ) for their beautiful pop-up library on African literature, tees and merch from Nnenna’s Garden by @naomiprojects_ + @findingijeoma , and @danielstestkitchenchicago for the yummy brunch bites. What a time! 🎷☕️

#Chicago: Fela Kuti Tribute 10/5 🇳🇬 Due to popular demand, we’re back w/ a special pop-up edition of @jazzcoffeebrunch : A Fela Kuti Tribute Sunday, Oct. 5th 2-7pm Music by @stonefruit_chi Sounds by: @findingijeoma 📍 @hostecocktails Brunch: 2-4:30pm Live Music Starts at: 3:30pm DJ Set: 5:30-7pm + intermission Tickets on sale now at the link in our bio. Must be 21+ to enter *All Sales Are Final Full lineup drops next week. #jazzcoffeebrunch #felakuti #felakutitribute #nigerianindependence #jazzgumbo #afrobeat

Nigerian Independence Day Party at @expatchicago 🇳🇬🫡 In partnership with @okrrrika , we’re hosting a special celebration in honor of Nigerian Independence. But more than just a nod to history, this is about identity, about who we are, where we come from, and how we continue to show up at the intersection of home and diaspora. Join us on October 1st at @expatchicago for an experience and celebration rooted in culture. This year’s celebration will feature: 📚A curated reading room by @okrikkka & the illustrious @oguguam featuring custom made nigerian charms by @gaudygems 🍸Powered by chicago’s own @jonbasiltequila 🍽️ Small chops by @ala.ase_ in partnership with Nigerian Kitchen 🎤 Hosted by @loverrrworrrld & @superstarrrkami 🎵 Sounds by @FINDINGIJEOMA , @ACEDSPADE and @djko_ent Free and open to the public (no, you don’t have to be Nigerian to attend), bring a friend and let’s make it a time. RSVP link in bio 🔥

At the heart of the work we do and at the foundation of every community is a mother. So we’ve put together an exquisite list of matriarchs who have made lasting impacts on not only our beloved city, but whose legacies vibrate across the planet. Nnenna’s Garden strives to honor and uplift these women, one story at a time. How much do you know about Chicago’s matriarchal history? Are there any matriarchs that you would add to this list? Share them with us this Sunday, September 21st from 3-8pm at the Southside Sanctuary (@southsidesanctuarychi ) for our inaugural event + continue to follow our journey @findingijeoma + @naomiprojects_ Cover photo credit: Susan J. Ross, @photogriot

Here at Nnenna’s Garden 🥭 we love a good story! So we’ve curated a shortlist of our favorite family archive and oral storytelling resources. What resources would you add to this list? Comment below! 👇🏾 Be sure to RSVP (link in bio 🔗) + save the date for our inaugural event Sunday, September 21st and be on the look out for our community partner announcement coming very soon! ✨

Save the Date— September 21st 🔔 FINDING IJEOMA (@findingijeoma ) + NAOMI Projects (@naomiprojects_ ) invite you to Nnenna’s Garden 🥭 — a not-to-be-missed experience on the first day of fall, celebrating Black family gatherings and matrilineal legacies in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood at @southsidesanctuarychi . FREE and open to the public for ALL ages Join us for a day of good food, memory-keeping, music, and impeccable vibes by hitting the link in bio 🔗 to reserve your spot! Logo design by @tessagillett_