Go Slow (Past And Present Futures From Alief to Abuja)

The evening celebrates Houston’s vibrant Nigerian community through an immersive exploration of culture, identity, sound, and dance.

This event journeys through the African diaspora and the evolution of music and art, viewed through a futuristic lens with a deep focus on Houston’s musical legacy—especially the enduring influence of Chopped and Screwed. It also pays homage to the vital contributions of Houston’s Nigerian and broader African communities in shaping and expanding this cultural conversation. Our aim is to bridge histories, identities, and creative expressions—and we’d love to invite you to create a set that speaks to and expands on these themes.

The evening celebrates Houston’s vibrant Nigerian community through an immersive exploration of culture, identity, sound, and dance. With more than 30,000 Nigerian-Americans calling the city home—the largest Nigerian population outside of Nigeria—Houston, and specifically Alief, has become a thriving cultural enclave. 

Acclaimed Nigerian-American artist and Houston native Dozie Kanu will present a sculptural installation of an interpretive Mothership, inspired by Parliament-Funkadelic’s iconic Mothership Connection—Live from Houston (1986). Paris-based DJ and multidisciplinary artist Crystallmess will curate a mix tracing the evolution of Black southern electronic music, weaving it with both classic and contemporary Houston and West African sounds. Joining her are Houston-based sound selectors HYPERFEMME and Big Ace, whose sets will ground the night in the unmistakable pulse of the city—layered, genre-fluid, and alive.