The Gyimah Institute of Viticulture and Enology Research (G.I.V.E.R.) and the Pan-African Vine and Wine Industry Group (P.A.V.W.I.G.) continue to advance their ambitious Pan-African vine and wine industry vision through “Akwaaba Sundays,” a monthly cultural and culinary series designed to pair Ghanaian fusion cuisine with wines from Black-owned vineyards, wineries, and Black-led wine labels across the globe.
Originally launched in April 2024, the seven-year initiative will run through March 2031 and reflects the organization’s broader commitment to fostering a globally connected Pan-African wine ecosystem rooted in cultural exchange, economic empowerment, sustainability, and community development.
The 27th edition of “Akwaaba Sundays,” spearheaded by co-founders Paul Ekow Gyimah and Sedinam Moyowasizfa-Curry, is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, 2026, in South Central Los Angeles, California. Since its inception, the series has featured 52 different wines sourced from Black-owned vineyards, wineries, and Black-led wine brands worldwide.
This month’s gathering coincides with the 141st celebration of Juneteenth and honors longtime supporters Tyrone Curry and Sheila Milan Hayes. Organizers say the event draws inspiration from Ghanaian hospitality traditions and African American Southern radical hospitality, creating a welcoming environment centered on fellowship, storytelling, cultural education, and authentic human connection.
Held under the third-year theme, “A Genesis of Sustainable Wealth: The Emergence and Cultivation of the Pan-African Vine and Wine Industry,” the event aims to introduce attendees to the growing Pan-African wine movement while promoting Ghanaian and Pan-African cuisine and culture.
Guests attending the June 7 event can expect a curated menu of Ghanaian fusion dishes prepared by a self-taught chef, alongside a selection of featured wines and beverages. Menu highlights include Ghanaian chicken sauce with coconut milk, Ghanaian meat pie with ground turkey, red stew with fried tilapia fish fillet, black-eyed peas with tuna, black beans with coconut milk, and mixed vegetable red stew. Dessert offerings will be curated by Sheila Milan Hayes.
Featured wines for the event include selections from the McBride Sisters Collection, founded by sisters Robin McBride and Andréa McBride John. Raised separately in Monterey, California, and Aotearoa New Zealand before reuniting in 1999, the sisters have become influential figures in the global wine industry through their entrepreneurial and cultural storytelling efforts.
The featured house wine for the event is the McBride Sisters Collection Red Blend Central Coast 2019, praised by Wine Enthusiast reviewer Matt Kettmann for its “black-raspberry, boysenberry and freshly turned earth aromas” balanced with “taut tannins” and nuanced herb and pepper flavors.
Guests will also be introduced to Nkulenu Palm Drink, a naturally fermented palm wine beverage produced using traditional extraction methods common across parts of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, South America, and Micronesia. Additional beverages include Lyons Wine Lambrusco Frizzante, Lyons Wine Barbera D’Asti, grape juice, and water.
According to organizers, “Akwaaba Sundays” was developed not only as a culinary and wine experience, but also as a platform to strengthen Ubuntu values of interconnectedness, community, and fellowship while supporting local entrepreneurs and honoring the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah.
As part of its broader strategic vision, G.I.V.E.R. and P.A.V.W.I.G. also announced plans to launch the internationally collaborative Volta Vine and Wine Task Force in mid-2026. The initiative seeks to address structural and environmental barriers limiting the development of a sustainable wine grape-growing industry in Ghana’s Volta Region.
Organizers added that all proceeds from “Akwaaba Sundays” events through May 2030 will support two Ghana-based corporate social responsibility initiatives: “#Galamsey Hurts Everyone NGO” and the “First Pan African Conference on Ending Illegal Mining on the Continent of Africa,” which is planned to take place in Ghana, West Africa.
The June 7, 2026 edition of “Akwaaba Sundays” will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 4727 and 4729 West 5th Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The event will feature indoor and outdoor seating, a smoke-free environment, casual dress, and music curated by resident music curator LaRoi Larkin.