Visionary Woman Folakemi Alli-Balogun Transforms Lagos Wine Culture with an Exciting Symphony of Wine and Sound.
By NAN
November 15, 2025
Pioneering an immersive multisensory experience that pairs fine wines with live orchestral music, redefining African luxury and the wine narrative in Nigeria.
The Wine Club Lagos presents an unprecedented event combining world-class wines and original orchestral compositions.
Folakemi Alli-Balogun’s vision elevates wine from status symbol to cultural celebration, rooted in Lagos’ vibrant identity.
Over 500 community members and 50+ tastings foster education, inclusion, and storytelling in Nigeria’s growing wine scene.
A documentary capturing the creative journey promises to inspire Africa’s cultural and entrepreneurial sectors.
On Sunday, November 9, 2025, Lagos – Africa’s vibrant cultural and economic hub – witnessed a transformative wine event unlike any before. Folakemi Alli-Balogun, founder of The Wine Club Lagos, took guests on an unprecedented sensory journey by pairing six internationally curated wines with original orchestral music performed live by a 20-piece ensemble at the prestigious Metropolitan Club.
For nearly ten years, Folakemi has pioneered a bold vision to shape Nigeria’s wine culture, drawing on expertise gained from vineyards and wine schools in South Africa and Bordeaux. Her mission: to move beyond wine as a mere luxury status symbol and instead create an immersive cultural experience that connects wine with music, emotion, and Lagos’ unique spirit.
“This event was a celebration of connection, creativity, and culture,” said Folakemi Alli-Balogun. “We showed that wine has a voice, one that everyone instinctively understands, and when paired with music, it tells stories that transcend both language and geography. Lagos is ready to own its place on the world wine stage, authentically and vibrantly.”
The event featured six wines sourced from France, Italy, and England, each paired intuitively with original scores that echoed and elevated their character. The orchestra reimagined nostalgic melodies, creating a multisensory narrative that guests described as “spellbinding” and “deeply emotional.”
The Wine Club Lagos, now counting over 500 members, continues to host more than 50 thematic tastings that explore wine’s cultural and craft dimensions. Folakemi’s approach powerfully challenges notions of African luxury as imported prestige, emphasising instead craftsmanship, storytelling, and the rootedness of local identity.
Capturing this historic occasion is an upcoming documentary showcasing the creative collaboration from initial tastings to the grand final performance, expected to ignite conversations on Africa’s emerging creative industries and entrepreneurial spirit.
Folakemi Alli-Balogun stands as a vibrant symbol of Nigerian innovation, cultural pride, and female leadership in a rapidly evolving luxury and lifestyle landscape
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About Folakemi Alli-Balogun
Folakemi Alli-Balogun is the founder of The Wine Club Lagos, a wine educator, and a cultural curator with over a decade of experience in the wine and hospitality industry. She holds certifications from the Cape Wine Academy (South Africa) and WSET Level 2 (with Distinction). In 2023, she was selected for the prestigious Bordeaux Mentor Week global wine scholarship. Through The Wine Club Lagos, she is redefining how wine is experienced in Nigeria, blending education, storytelling, and cultural connection.
About The Wine Club Lagos
Founded nearly a decade ago, The Wine Club Lagos is a wine education and tasting collective that curates memorable and immersive wine experiences in Nigeria. With a community of over 500 members, the club has hosted more than 50 themed tastings across Lagos, celebrating discovery, learning, and the art of wine appreciation.