AfriKin Foundation
| Founded | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Alfonso D. Brooks |
| Type | 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution |
| Focus | African and African diaspora arts, cultural programming |
| Location |
|
Area served | Miami metropolitan area; international |
| Method | Art fairs, exhibitions, cultural events |
Key people | Alfonso D. Brooks (Founder and Executive Director) |
| Website | afrikin |
AfriKin Foundation, Inc. is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution founded in 2015 and based in North Miami, Florida. The foundation focuses on African and African diaspora arts and cultural programming. It operates Maison AfriKin, a gallery and event space at 1600 NE 126th Street in North Miami, and produces an annual portfolio of exhibitions and cultural events including the AfriKin Art Fair, held each year during Miami Art Week.
The organization's name combines "Africa" and "kinship."
History
AfriKin Foundation grew out of Rockers Movement, a cultural production platform founded by Alfonso D. Brooks in 1998 that produced music festivals and community events across South Florida and the New York metropolitan area. Brooks formally established AfriKin Foundation as a nonprofit in 2015, focusing the work on contemporary African and diaspora visual art and cultural programming.
In 2022, AfriKin Foundation established its permanent institutional home at 1600 NE 126th Street in North Miami, Florida, operating the space as Maison AfriKin.
Programs
AfriKin Art Fair
The AfriKin Art Fair is the foundation's flagship annual program, presenting contemporary African and diaspora art during Miami Art Week each December. The fair has been recognized by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) as an official kick-off event of Art Basel Miami Beach.[1]
| Year | Edition / Theme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Art & Reason | Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami |
| 2016 | We Are AfriKin | Miami, Florida |
| 2017 | Healing Our Nation | Miami, Florida |
| 2018 | Art, Culture, Community | Miami, Florida |
| 2019 | Art of Conversation | Miami Beach, Florida |
| 2020 | A New Way of Being | Virtual |
| 2021 | The Fire Next Time | Miami Ironside |
| 2022 | The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born | Miami Ironside |
| 2023 | The Beauty and Brilliance of Global Africa | North Miami[2] |
| 2024 | Threads of Life and Fragments of Time (10th anniversary edition, 74 artists) | North Miami[3] |
| 2025 | Scenes From Home (nearly 200 works by approximately 60 artists) | North Miami[4] |
AfriKin Art Wellington
Launched in February 2025 in partnership with the Village of Wellington and Palm Beach County, AfriKin Art Wellington is an annual exhibition presented each February at the Wellington Community Center Grande Ballroom. The 2026 edition featured works by over 50 artists from more than 35 countries.[5][6]
African Fashion Week Miami
An annual runway showcase presenting designers whose collections draw on African identity and heritage. Past designers have represented Senegal, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Haiti.
AfriKin: Art, Jazz & Champagne
An annual all-women art exhibition and live jazz event held each March during Women's History Month.[7]
Taste of AfriKin
An annual event celebrating African and Caribbean culinary traditions held each Labor Day weekend in North Miami, featuring food, live music, art, and a jollof cook-off.[8]
Art and the Beautiful Game
A contemporary exhibition presented during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami, featuring works by artists from multiple countries across Africa and the African diaspora. The exhibition ran from June through October 2026 at Maison AfriKin and included the Cabo Verde International Football Welcome Reception on June 20, 2026, endorsed by Consul General Octavio B. Gomes of the Republic of Cabo Verde.
Recognition
AfriKin Foundation has received civic recognition from multiple South Florida governments and institutions:
- 2026 — City of North Miami proclaimed February 24, 2026 as Alfonso D. Brooks Day via official proclamation.[9]
- 2025 — Arts & Social Impact Award, Arts & Business Council of Miami.
- 2024 — AfriKin Art Week Proclamation, City of North Miami, designating December 1–7 as AfriKin Art Week, proclaimed by Mayor Alix Desulme and the full City Commission.
- 2024 — Letter of Support, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, signed by Senior Vice President Connie Kinnard.
- 2019 — AfriKin Day Proclamation, City of Miami Beach.
- 2016 — Afrikin Festival Day Proclamation, City of Miami.
Press coverage
AfriKin Foundation has been covered by regional and national media:
- The New York Times featured the AfriKin Art Fair in its Miami Art Week coverage in December 2023.[10]
- WPLG Local 10 covered the AfriKin Art Fair "Scenes From Home" exhibition in November 2025.[11]
- WSVN / Deco Drive has covered multiple AfriKin events across several years.
- Miami Times covered the AfriKin "Gaze Africana" exhibition in January 2023.[12]
- Caribbean National Weekly and Town-Crier News covered AfriKin Art Wellington in February 2026.
- Wellington The Magazine featured AfriKin Art Wellington in January 2026.[13]
References
- ↑ "AfriKin – Arts & Culture". Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "Miami Art Fairs". The New York Times. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "AfriKin Art Fair 10th Anniversary". WSVN Deco Drive. 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "AfriKin Opens 'Scenes From Home' Exhibition for Miami Art Week". WPLG Local 10. 2025-11-30. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "AfriKin Foundation Celebrates Black History with Landmark Wellington Exhibition". Caribbean National Weekly. 2026-02-26. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "AfriKin Art Wellington To Feature Global Contemporary Art". Town-Crier News. 2026-02-25. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "AfriKin: Art, Jazz and Champagne". WSVN Deco Drive. 2025-03-06. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "Taste of AfriKin". WSVN Deco Drive. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "Alfonso D. Brooks Day Proclamation". City of North Miami. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "Miami Art Fairs". The New York Times. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "AfriKin Opens 'Scenes From Home' Exhibition for Miami Art Week". WPLG Local 10. 2025-11-30. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "'The Gaze Africana' Showcases International Black Artists". Miami Times. 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ "AfriKin Art Wellington: A Cultural Jewel for Black History Month". Wellington The Magazine. 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
External links
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