M eet Aphrodisiac, the Dublin-based nightlife organisation that centres Afrocentric music for queer women and non-binary folks of colour. Set up in 2024, Co-Founder Jhonnie explains, “At its core, it’s a space for women loving women and non-binary people to come together, celebrate themselves, and exist freely without feeling like they need to shrink any part of who they are.”
When a person is a member of multiple marginalised communities, it can be difficult to find belonging. A Black queer woman may feel too Black for majority white queer spaces and too queer for Black spaces. Existing at the intersection of marginalised identities can make someone feel like they have to compress themselves to be accepted.
“A lot of queer spaces in Ireland can sometimes lack cultural diversity and representation, particularly for Black and Brown queer people, and a lot of traditionally Afrocentric spaces can still feel very heteronormative and dare I say homophobic, so Aphrodisiac was really created at the intersection of those two experiences,” Jhonnie says. “We wanted to create a space where Black and Brown queer people could feel represented while still making it welcoming to the wider WLW (women loving women) community as a whole.”
Aphrodisiac was created to forge something that was lacking in Dublin. When discussing what led to the creation of the club night, Jhonnie says, “The idea honestly came from our own experiences going out in Dublin. We loved queer spaces because they gave us the freedom to be ourselves, but musically and culturally, we often felt disconnected from them. At the same time, we loved the atmosphere and music in more Afrocentric nightlife spaces, but never fully felt like we could exist there openly and authentically as queer women.
“We kept asking ourselves why there wasn’t already a space that blended both worlds naturally. Somewhere you could hear Afrobeats, Amapiano, Dancehall and R&B while also being surrounded by queer people who looked like you, understood you, or simply embraced you fully,” Jhonnie continues.
And thus, Aphrodisiac was born! This immensely important organisation that began with two friends spotting something that was missing from Dublin nightlife has grown from an idea into a cultural movement that matters to people and the community.
As Co-Founder, Jhonnie spearheads a lot of the organising, creative direction, marketing, and event coordination. However, to make Aphrodisiac happen, she gets a lot of support from her friends, loved ones, and the community around her.
Jhonnie highlights this support, saying, “Aphrodisiac is still a very grassroots operation, so a lot of the work happens through passion and community effort. I’m lucky to have the support of my fiancée, Amahle, who helps massively behind the scenes, alongside amazing friends, creatives, volunteers, DJs, photographers, and collaborators who have all contributed to helping it grow into what it is today.”
AJ, one of Jhonnie’s friends, does ground work at events, checking on attendees and aiding in the fluidity of the night. The team also consists of Chloe, who helps with social media management, Maria, who captures the magical moments of the night on camera, and a graphic designer who wishes to remain anonymous, all of whom work together to bring the Aphrodisiac vision to life.
As a nightlife organisation, Aphrodisiac is also powered by talented DJs. “Our resident DJ is RJ the DJ, who has become a real staple of the atmosphere at our events. We’ve also been lucky to work with incredible recurring DJs including DJ TEEMADEMEDOIT, DJ Saz, DJ Balikis and many more talented artists who really understand the energy we’re trying to create,” Jhonnie says.
Event organising can be taxing and stressful, but the beautiful display and forging of community is a justifiable reward. Narrating the progression of the night, Jhonnie says, “People start arriving, the DJs begin setting the tone, conversations start flowing, people loosen up and begin dancing, and suddenly all the stress of organising disappears because you can physically see the community forming in front of you.”
The character and ambience of the night wash away any worry and pressure. Jhonnie continues, “RJ the DJ usually ends up dancing on tables at some point, which has honestly become part of the experience now. Sometimes we’re handing out shots, sometimes people are singing lyrics arm in arm with complete strangers. It’s chaotic in the best possible way. At the end of the night, no matter how stressful the lead-up was, we always leave feeling like it was worth it.”
The energy and atmosphere at Aphrodisiac is sacred and special, one that leaves attendees feeling like they were a part of something. “The vibe honestly feels hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it,” Jhonnie explains. “It’s one of my favourite things, looking around the room during an Aphrodisiac night and seeing people who came alone dancing together like old friends, or strangers meeting in the smoking area and sharing stories about their lives. There’s something really beautiful about watching people let their guard down.”
Describing the people who make the night what it is, Jhonnie says, “The people represented at Aphrodisiac are incredibly diverse. While we centre Afrocentric culture and Black and Brown queer experiences, the space itself is for queer women and non-binary people as a whole. Our DJs, performers, and attendees come from a wide range of backgrounds, and that diversity is part of what makes the atmosphere feel so special.”
Want to be a part of the magic? Aphrodisiac is held seasonally, with Valentine’s Day and Pride being their biggest moments. Jhonnie explains, “We really want each event to feel intentional and memorable rather than over-saturated.”
She continues, “We’ve hosted events across different venues in Dublin, including Wigwam, The Grand Social, and most frequently The Sound House. Each venue brings something different, but the atmosphere is always rooted in community, music, freedom, and connection.”
This year, Aphrodisiac’s Pride celebration is happening a little later, on Saturday, August 1. “It’s going to be a themed event because our community absolutely loves a good theme. It’s going to be a celebration of queerness, music, culture, and joy,” Jhonnie says.
Aphrodisiac events are ticketed with lower-priced earlybird tickets available before the general sale. Jhonnie adds, “Accessibility is important to us. Through giveaways and in some circumstances where people genuinely reach out saying they cannot afford a ticket but would love to attend, we’ve often accommodated these requests because community matters to us more than anything.”
And don’t let going alone deter you. Jhonnie highlights steps they have taken to make solo attendees feel more comfortable, saying, “For people attending alone, we actually create group chats before events where solo attendees can meet each other beforehand, organise pre-drinks, and head to the venue together if they want to. That’s helped so many people feel less nervous walking in.”
Aphrodisiac has grown extensively since its beginning. People look forward to and plan around the club nights, with some even travelling from locations such as London, Amsterdam, Manchester, France, and Finland to attend. Jhonnie talks of wanting to expand, both across Ireland and internationally.
“I want us to continue building on that while staying rooted in the community that built us,” Jhonnie says. “Bigger events, bigger collaborations, more cultural programming, more visibility for queer female and nonbinary talent, and hopefully eventually creating larger-scale cultural experiences beyond nightlife alone.”
Jhonnie also has some larger scope plans for Aphrodisiac. “Long term, one of my biggest dreams is to create a Black Pride-style event in Ireland, similar to what exists in the UK. Something that goes beyond nightlife alone,” she says. “I’d love to create a full cultural experience where queer people of colour creatives, poets, writers, performers, and artists can speak about identity, visibility, and belonging while also celebrating ourselves through music and community afterwards.”
The importance and value of Aphrodisiac cannot be overstated. The space that it provides and the community that it builds create a long-lasting impact on Dublin and all who attend the events.
“There’s something powerful about entering a room and hearing music you grew up with, seeing hairstyles and fashion that feel familiar, hearing slang or cultural references that make sense to you, while also feeling fully accepted in your queerness,” Jhonnie emphasises. “These spaces create belonging in a very specific and necessary way. They allow people to exist without constantly translating parts of themselves.”
Jhonnie is massively thankful to all who have helped promote and encourage Aphrodisiac to thrive and grow into what it is today. “Whether you’ve attended an event, reposted our content, DJ’d for us, volunteered, photographed moments, or simply told a friend about us, every bit of support has helped us grow,” she says. “Building queer spaces independently is not always easy, but seeing the impact it has on people makes it worth it every single time. We’re still growing, still learning, and still dreaming bigger, but at the heart of everything is community. We hope Aphrodisiac continues being a space where people feel free, celebrated, and fully themselves for many years to come.”
To stay up to date with Aphrodisiac, follow their TikTok and Instagram @aphrodisiac.ie.
This article is part of GCN’s new Amach le Bród (Out with Pride) series, to combat anti-LGBTQ+ misinformation and platform underrepresented voices. The project was funded by the Coimisiún na Meán News Reporting Scheme.