FUND A NIGERIAN FOOD POP-UP !

Wahala is Back. Join us for a Celebration of Joy and Community in Callowhill. The event takes place at Love City Brewery’s gorgeous garden on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2023.

Get to know Adesola:

Adesola is a queer, black nonbinary multimedia artist hailing from Lagos, Nigeria. With over 15 years of food industry experience and a passion for visual storytelling and food activism, they invite you to an unforgettable event that celebrates the richness of Nigerian culture and the power of joy.

Pictured: Adesola. Image Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

A message from Adesola:

“With this event, I want everyone to enjoy the foods I grew up with that bring people together. Growing up in a vibrant city like Lagos meant a lot of fun folks throwing down in the kitchen. And others sitting at the kitchen tables joining in with their stories, dancing around to whatever Fela Kuti remix was hot, and just being joyous with smiles that hurt too much from laughing. Wahala is meant to echo those same feelings as we invite folks to share in my world for a moment.

Whether enjoying some suya and dominos, making new friends, or just feeling like you have a community, Wahala should go beyond enjoying delicious Nigerian food. It should be a reminder that immigrants make this city, that the Black LGBTQ+ community is strong, and that joy is possible.

For the last decade, I have called Philadelphia my home, though I spent many of my formative years in eastern North Carolina. Anyone who has lived in the South knows that it’s all our community bonding over food, drinks, and storytelling.

My time in Philadelphia has been spent opening many popular restaurants, advocating for workers’ rights and marginalized folks, and creating chaos on the drums in two of my bands.

It’s important to me to bring this diverse event to neighborhoods where the marginalized and underrepresented are being pushed out, to continue to highlight the food and culture of my people, and, in the future, help others to bring similar events to other parts of the city.

Any donation you're able to make is so appreciated.”

The Origins of Wahala:

The inspiration to create this event was brought on by Adesola’s deep nostalgia for traditional Nigerian food, the joy that abounds when making it with those she deeply cares for, and connecting with new faces as they share their stories.

It’s those memories that guided them to host the inaugural Nigerian food pop-up at Martha last year, which quickly sold out! Folks had a blast and wanted another round, so here we are!

Wahala 2023:

Callowhill at Love City Brewery’s garden

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2023

Pictured: Love City Brewery Gardens Image Source: lovecitybrewing.com

After last year's overwhelming success, Wahala is leveling up with an expanded menu of ten dishes!

Here’s some of what you can expect:

Chin-chin: cinnamon & nutmeg fried cookies.

Akara: crispy & golden bean fritters.

Suya: fiery Lagosian spicy beef on a stick for the adventurous palate.

PLUS, a classic from Adesola's home, a tomato stew cooked down with goat meat.

Pictured: Wahala 2022 Photo Credit: Uv Lucas

The cocktail menu will be curated in collaboration with the talented staff at Love City Brewery and will be served alongside the delicious beers on tap. The cocktails are influenced by the ingredients in these West African dishes and, once again, there will be NA (non-alcoholic) versions.

To bring back that childhood joy to the event, we are adding:

A spades competition

Other fun card games (TBA)

A cute photo booth so y’all can show off and remember how lovely you are!

Of course, We will be bringing back the fantastic DJ, Duiji, this year for an incredible mix of music we can all dance to! We’re also partnering with several new local businesses for some fun surprises at the event, so keep on the lookout for future announcements!

Be Part of the Journey:

To bring this dream to life, Adesola needs to raise $4,000 by AUGUST 30TH.

What your donations will make possible:

Your generous donations will pave the way for an inclusive and unforgettable experience for all. Every contribution, big or small, plays a significant role in making Wahala a resounding success.

Stay Connected:

Connect with Wahala on Instagram @wahala_philly. Adesola will take you on their journey putting this event together, give special behind-the-scenes clips, highlight collaborators, and more.

Help us make this event a success! Share this campaign with your friends, family, and community. Together, we can create joy that extends far beyond the event itself.