Ugochi and African Soul Ensemble | Arts + Literature Laboratory | Madison Contemporary Arts Center

Ugochi and African Soul Ensemble

A 2025 Madison Jazz Festival Event 

As part of the 60th anniversary celebration for the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), the Madison Jazz Festival 2025 and Cafe CODA welcome Ugochi and African Soul Ensemble on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 5:00pm.

For six decades, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians has been at the forefront of redefining the landscape of music, creating opportunities for groundbreaking artists and amplifying voices that need to be heard. From inspiring performances to boundary-pushing recordings, they continue to nurture, produce, and elevate original music that challenges the status quo.

Ugochi Nwaogwugwu

Ugochi Nwaogwugwu is a multidisciplinary creative. An internationally renowned poet, singer, writer, poetry instructor and founder of Spirit Speaks, Inc., Ugochi has executive produced, written and co-arranged three album projects; African Buttafly, A.S.E. and Love Shot. Chicago Music Awards named Ugochi and her band, African Soul Ensemble (A.S.E.), “Best African Entertainer” in 2005, 2022 and 2023. Her poems have been published in “Storm Between Two Fingers” &  Too Young, Too Loud, Too Different, both international anthologies released in the UK. She is also featured in “Golden Shovel Anthology,” honoring Gwendolyn Brooks, “The Eternal Year of African People,” and “Wherever I’m At” released nationwide.

Ugochi has shared the stage with several established musical artists such as Common, Eric Benet, John Legend, Femi Kuti, Edwin McCain, Seun Kuti, Maxi Priest, Umphrey’s McGee,... Read More

with additional funds from the Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation, the Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation.

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Arts + Literature Laboratory is located at 111 S. Livingston Street #100, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703.

Our galleries are open Tuesday through Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday noon to 5pm, and other programs take place throughout the week. Please check the events calendar and education section for details.

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