Rugby player Maro Itoje and gallery director Khalil Akar first crossed paths in 2019. Itoje, who had initially immersed himself in African art as a collector, decided to further venture into the art world and was connected with Akar, then director of the Signature African Art gallery.
Following the success of their 2021 group show "A History Untold”, they began brainstorming bigger projects. Noting the lack of availability when it came to affordable African art on the international market, they created the Akoje Gallery to promote up-and-coming artists from the continent. This effort ultimately led to the creation of the Akoje Residency, designed to “give back” and empower artists from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora by providing them with the space and resources needed to develop their practices.