Afrodjia Social Club

Afrodjia Social Club is supported in part by the Chicago Park District and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. Program partners include Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, CNL Projects, and Chicago Public Art Group.

This event is part of Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center's 55th Anniversary Celebrations.

Under the artistic direction of Sadie Woods, with acclaimed trumpeter Corey Wilkes serving as Music Director, Afrodjia Social Club features an orchestral DJ set that brings together Woods’ deejaying practice with live symphonic instrumentation and vocal performance. The performance pays homage to Woods’ Chicago roots and familial heritage by way of Lares and Guayama (Borikén), New York, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Utilizing deejaying as both an American art form and cultural catalyst, the performance highlights musical traditions that have long sustained communities through ceremony, celebration, gathering, and fellowship.

Through contemporary music, original compositions and reimagined traditional songs, the program merges electronic sound, orchestral arrangements, and live performance, demonstrating how music functions as sanctuary, archive, and living embodiment of American histories. The work celebrates the cultural knowledge, foodways, and musical traditions carried forward through generations, honoring the peoples whose labor, stewardship, and creativity have shaped the cultural landscape of the Americas.

Hospitality is central to the experience. Guests will enjoy Comidas y Bebidas, a thoughtfully prepared dinner by Chef Roberto Peréz of Urban Pilón, centering Borinquén and Caribbean dining traditions through a farm-to-table approach featuring produce from Cedillo Fresh Produce, locally sourced ingredients and time-honored cooking methods.

The evening includes beverage contributions from Three Olive Vodka, Tin Cup Bourbon, and 1800 Tequila.