The journey of immigration is a narrative deeply etched and embedded into the fabric of my identity. My parents' voyage began with a courageous move from Ghana to the United States, ending in a poetic reverse migration to their ancestral home, over 30 years later. My path is the direct opposite, beginning in Houston and immigrating to Ghana when I was nine months old. I returned to Texas a few months before my fifth birthday. Ours is just one of the over two million stories of African immigrants in the United States.

Before the 1960’s and the enactment of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, voluntary African immigration to the United States was almost nonexistent. Immigration legislation effectively barred immigration from African countries due to national origin quotas intended to promote Western European migration and citizenship. The Act repealed the discriminatory quotas and marked a turning point for African immigration to the U.S., which quickly burgeoned.

After arriving in the U.S., Africans who were more accustomed to the kinship of communal living on the Continent yearned for an opportunity to gather. They have shared stories detailing travel across several states for the gift of shared company with other Africans, regardless of their nationality, even if only for a few hours. These gatherings were more than house parties; they were remedies for the solitude and isolation that often shadowed immigrant communities. They ate, drank, danced, and wove together the tapestry of their cultures, forging connections that spanned continents.

In honor of those trailblazers who carved out a new African diaspora in America, Auntie's presents: The Gathering: Honoring the first wave of African immigrants to the United States. This intimate house party on July 21st will feature a four-course tasting menu showcasing dishes from African aunties hailing from Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa. Each course will highlight sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavor notes perfectly complemented by an artfully crafted beverage pairing.