Tag: African business owners in America

How an Ethiopian-owned restaurant responded after being burned down during protests

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Bolé Ethiopian Cuisine in St. Paul was destroyed during the protests.

Rekik Abaineh and her husband Solomon Hailie, owners of Bolé Ethiopian Cuisine in St. Paul, Minnesota, told ABC News it was “overwhelming” to see their restaurant reduced to rubble after the first night of George Floyd protests in Minnesota’s Twin Cities

By Kelly McCarthy | abcnews

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For Moses Mbai, a Kenyan Entrepreneur Based in Texas, the Covid-19 Pandemic is Blessing in Disguise

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By John Wanjohi  | Mwakilishi.com

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of many Kenyans living in the US, with some losing their jobs, sent on unpaid leave, or forced to shut businesses for those who are self-employed. But for 28-year-old Moses Mbai, a Kenyan entrepreneur based in Dallas, Texas, the pandemic is a ‘blessing in disguise.’

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Meet Remi Duyile, the Nigerian-born Former Vice President Of Bank Of America

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Remi Duyile is a Nigerian-born former Vice President of Bank of America. She is one the most influential figures in the world of international finance, as well as being a serving commissioner in the state of Maryland. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Image Consulting Group. She was recently featured on the May/June 2020 issue of PLEASURES MAGAZINE

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Solomon Ayele is making Americans to fall in love with Ethiopian-inspired honey wine

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Solomon Ayele is from Ethiopia. He and his family migrated to Kenya and then to the United States, settling in the Bay Area in California in the mid-1980s. After earning a degree in environmental economics at University of California, Berkeley, he returned to Africa. There, his work as a conservationist — fostering economic opportunities for indigenous residents of the mountainous rain forest of Kafa in southwestern Ethiopia — reintroduced him to honey wine. He brought what he learnt to America. Today, he is a known promoter of Honey Wine and was voted by Food and Wine Magazine in 2019 as a Tastemaker.

By Mike Dunne  | San Fransisco Chronicle

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Meet Dr. Chris Wachira: Kenyan-born healthcare specialist with a passion for wine-making

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By Anya Soltero | Almeda Magazine

For Chris Wachira, the first Kenyan-born winemaker in California, pairing her two great passions has yielded some remarkably fruit-forward results. Wachira has lived in the United States for 20 years, but her path to winemaking has been circuitous and fortuitous, having first obtained her nursing doctorate in health care systems leadership from the University of San Francisco.

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Nigerian-born Salon Owner Barely Staying Afloat as She Awaits Government Rescue Funds

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By Doug Stone | Voice of America

Kemi Lawani tries to keep up her spirits in the face of financial adversity, especially in front of her two young children. But sometimes she can’t help but think the deck has been stacked against her amid the coronavirus pandemic shutdown in the northern U.S. state of Minnesota.

Continue reading “Nigerian-born Salon Owner Barely Staying Afloat as She Awaits Government Rescue Funds”

Adenah Bayoh: The Liberian-born real estate millionaire who is one of the largest employers in Irvinton, New Jersey

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Adenah Bayoh embodies the American dream. At age 13, she escaped the civil war in her native country of Liberia, immigrated to the United States and is now one of the most successful entrepreneurs in her home state of New Jersey. Adenah is the founder and CEO of Adenah Bayoh and Companies, which is the parent corporation that owns IHOP franchises in Paterson and Irvington, New Jersey and a real estate development portfolio with over $225 million in urban redevelopment projects. Because of the success of her flagship IHOP in Irvington, she is the second largest employer in the Township.

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Africa’s Billionaire Entrepreneurs Are Helping the Continent Battle the Covid 19 Challenge

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By Ebimo Amungo

As Corona Virus ravages the world, straining health systems to creaking point in America, Italy, Spain, and countries considered advanced, the world watches with trepidation as the virus makes its way slowly, but surely, towards Africa. The World Health Organization and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have warned about the consequence of the virus taking hold in Africa. The prospects are dire for a continent with a dilapidated healthcare system and governments burdened with myriad fiscal and political challenges.

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Mathew Knowles, Father of Beyoncé And Solange, Invests in African Music Streaming Startup MEPLAYLIST

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BY MURRAY STASSEN |MUSIC BUSINESS WORLDWIDE

Mathew Knowles, the father (and former manager) of artists Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, has made an undisclosed investment in Nigeria-based music startup, MePlaylist. MePlaylist is a music streaming platform founded by Olakunle Oladehin in 2017.

The service is available across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, as well as the UK and North America.

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Meet Seble Alemayehu and Felekech Biratu, the co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.

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By Robert Smith Business School

Seble Alemayehu and Felekech (Fei) Biratu started as high school friends, and after a similar journey through life, a move around the globe and two MBA degrees from the Robert Smith School, they now are proud co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.

Continue reading “Meet Seble Alemayehu and Felekech Biratu, the co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.”

Meet Nosa Ehimwenman O’Hare’s 1st black concessions prime contractor

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Nigerian-Born Nosa Ehimwenman is the founder of Bowa, a fast growing construction company that has been involved in a lot of projects in Chicago. His company was contracted to renovate a Starbucks concession in Chicago airport, the same airport where his father used to pick passengers from so his family could survive.

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Diaspo #129 : Moroccan delicacies in the heart of Beverly Hills with Chef Ben

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He is the man behind the delicacies of California’s new «place to be» restaurant Tagine Beverly Hills. Chef Ben, or Abdessamad Benameur, is a self-taught, spontaneous and full of love and energy Moroccan man who brought the secrets of the Moroccan cuisine to Beverly Hills.

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The Senegalese Chef Behind America’s New Favorite Supergrain

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Pierre Thiam used to have to smuggle fonio from West Africa into the U.S. Now he’s getting it into as many of the country’s restaurants and grocery stores as he can.

BY 

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Liberian Journalist turns US Insurance Guru

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By Nathan Charles

Cross the Atlantic Ocean from his native homeland Liberia, Mr. Peter Massaquoi, had big dreams of becoming successful in the United State but had no idea of venturing into the insurance business.

Peter like many other Liberians and decedents of African, Asian, European countries who come to the USA via the Diversity Visa Program only think of working for other people or companies and earning money to improve their living conditions. 

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Egyptian Coffee Shop in New York stakes claim to being first hookah lounge in America

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Sip coffee and talk politics at this landmark cafe in Astoria’s Little Egypt, a contender for the title of America’s first hookah bar. 

By REINA GATTUSO

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Omega1: Ghanaian couple open African fashion house in Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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By Kristin Palpini

PITTSFIELD — Bright Abbey has been an entrepreneur all his life. He has owned a restaurant and a medical equipment shipping firm. Those were in Ghana, though. Omega1 African Fashion on North Street is his first business venture in America.

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Wutiko, Pace University, to host Opportunities in Africa conference in New York during United Nations General Assembly

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New York — Wutiko in association with Pace University Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems organizes Opportunities in Africa #NYC19 on September 27th at Pace University’s Manhattan campus.

This event will feature companies and organizations from Africa with highlights on three main countries where Wutiko has regular offices (Mauritius, Nigeria and Senegal).

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Inaugural Congolese Diaspora Impact Summit to take place in NYC Sept. 21

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Congolese and Congolese-Americans living in America want to change the narrative around the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They’ve launched the inaugural Congolese Diaspora Impact Summit (CDIS), which will take place in New York City on September 21st; in the midst of the United Nations General Assembly.

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Washington braces up for Mega Forum on Making African Trade Easy – Q&A with Angelle Kwemo on Mate 2019

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By Ajong Mbapndah L

Trade, the African Continental Free Trade Area, Prosper Africa initiative, business networks and more will be in focus during the upcoming Making African Trade Easy Forum organized by Believe in Africa Foundation. Considering that this is the 5th anniversary of Believe in Africa, we decided to do something different, says Founder and CEO Angelle Kwemo in a preview of the forum with Pan African Visions.

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Forget Popeyes: this Ethiopian restaurant has the best chicken sandwich in Washington D.C.

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By Hannah Natanson

People had been losing their minds for days over the Popeyes chicken sandwich when someone threw out a suggestion for locals in D.C.: “Popeyes is cool and all,” the woman tweeted. “If you live in the DMV area you should check out the Roaming Rooster.

It’s a family business owned by an Ethiopian immigrant who “has always been kind,” tweeted the woman, whose account gives her name as “La Hara” and says she is a musician.

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South African introduces Taste of Soweto as part of food festival in Colorado Springs

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By Nick Puckett

A south African chef is hoping to introduce his Kalahari chicken wings, from his A Taste of Soweto restuarant to visitors of the Annual A Taste of Colorado Food Festival in Colorado Springs. Mpho MaPoulo wants to introduce the taste of his home country to Americans with his start-up food business A Taste of Soweto. MaPoulo and his wife, Ocean, hope to have their own food truck at the festival come October.

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Directory for Businesses of African Diaspora to be Launched

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A directory for businesses and non-profit organisations (NGOs) has been developed for the African diaspora to promote economic and social relations for shared benefits.

Dubbed, International Black Book (IBB) and scheduled to be launched in 2020, it aims to converge with Africa’s efforts to meet the economic and cultural needs of the continent by connecting businesses, agencies and people throughout the African diaspora.

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Diplomats, Business Executives expected at USAfrica Business Expo During the 74th General Assembly in New York

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On September 20, the eve of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Her Excellency Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao – African Union Ambassador to the U.S.A., will lead other diplomats, and business leaders to the USAfrica Business Expo — a B2B trade show, conference & networking event aimed at helping African businesses expand into international markets.

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Verve Global Card Launches 1st International Transaction In New York

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Verve, a leading payments technology and card business in Africa, and Discover Global Network, the payments brand of Discover, today held an event to launch the Verve Global Card. Cardholders will now have the ability to use their Verve Global Cards on the Discover Global Network which provides acceptance in more than 190 countries and territories. This will expand Verve’s existing suite of tailored payment products and solutions for its customers.

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This Maverick is advancing Africa through Tech

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Iyinoluwa Aboyeji is an exceptional man. At 28, he has founded a slew of start-ups that have raised several millions of dollars and had immense social and economic impact in Africa. His role in founding Andela is well known just as his role in the birth of flutterwave. He has now started a family office in San Francisco to invest in other start-ups, and of course, his operational scope will include Africa. This report tells more about his early days as an entrepreneur.

By Peace Hyde

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Winning the East and West African Markets In the United States and Abroad

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Bringing Africa Into the Fold

We talk about the United Kingdom. We talk about Canada. We talk about Singapore, Sweden, Australia, and Germany. In fact, when it comes to international expansion, there’s a buzz in just about every corner of the globe, but we rarely discuss the exciting progress taking place in several countries that make up the African continent. 

Even within the United States, companies looking to expand their target audience don’t often consider the growing African immigrant population right here at home. Traditionally, the entire African continent and the African diaspora have been largely left out of these conversations, but that’s all about to change. It’s high time we bring the youngest (and the oldest) continent, along with its people, into the fold. 

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Brooklyn Naija: Business and Entrepreneurship

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Through education, entrepreneurship and a willingness to hustle, Nigerians find different creative avenues for earning

by Victoria Ifatusin


From retail to real estate; from architecture to acting, Nigerians seem to have a knack for turning their talents into money-earning ventures.

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WEST AFRICA FINDS AN UNLIKELY HOME IN SILICON VALLEY

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By Jackie Abramian

There’s an influx of top West African government officials in Silicon Valley.

And it’s due to the efforts of one woman, Denise Ajayi Williams, President and Co-Founder of the Silicon Valley – Nigerian Economic Development Inc. (SV-NED).

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Meet Godshelter Oluwalogbon who Sells Jollof Rice Outside the Nigerian Consulate in New York

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By Nina Roberts

Parked in front of Manhattan’s Nigerian consulate, during a blizzard or heat wave, is the intrepid Divine Flavored Food Truck selling home-cooked Nigerian food. Customers line up at the window to order jollof rice with goat, gizzdodo (chicken gizzard with plantain cooked in fresh thyme and curry), or a pureed red bean called moimoi, among other traditional Nigerian dishes.

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Fiery stews and jollof rice: the chef giving San Francisco’s food scene a Nigerian flavor

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By Luke Tsai in San Francisco

When Simileoluwa Adebajo was homesick for Nigeria, she started a restaurant to recreate her childhood home through traditional cuisine. Simileoluwa Adebajo missed the fiery stews she grew up eating in Nigeria. She missed her mother’s smoky jollof rice.

Adebajo lived in San Francisco, where dozens of stylish fast-casual restaurants churn out every kind of rice bowl and ethnically inspired sandwich you can imagine but there’s not a single jollof joint to speak of. So Adebajo had little choice but to follow in the footsteps of so many homesick expats before her: She opened a restaurant of her own.

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