Ghanaian-British chef Akwasi Brenya-Mensa launches £50,000 Kickstarter campaign

Ghanaian-British chef Akwasi Brenya-Mensa has launched a £50,000 Kickstarter campaign to support the opening of his pan-African restaurant Tatale and fund other African culinary projects.

Introducing the Kickstarter the chef said: "For too long, African cuisines in the UK and elsewhere have been sidelined. They haven't been offered the space in the public sphere that they deserve. I want to change that and you can help by supporting this Kickstarter."

Tatale is to open in the Africa centre on London's Southbank on 14 July and will be reminiscent of the old chop bars that are a defining feature of the West African culinary landscape.

With a 33-cover restaurant and 100-cover bar Brenya-Mensa aims to tell stories through food, art and culture. The menu will feature dishes from across the continent including Ghanaian Chichinga Buttermilk fried chicken wings served with dill emulsion and berbere king oyster mushroom, jollof couscous, plantain, red stew and palm wine pickled shallot from Ethiopia.

The kickstarter will support work on Tatale, which Brenya-Mensa has so far self-financed, as well as funding future concepts that celebrate Black and diaspora identities, such as Black to the Future and the Pan-African Social Club Incubator.

The incubator will be a dedicated programme and space for Black people in food to come together, share resources, upskill and level up, as part of an ongoing agreement with The London Mayor's office.

The Kickstarter will offer rewards for pledges ranging from private dinners to a chance to become part of a tasting team.

See the 15 July edition of The Caterer for an in-depth interview with Brenya-Mensa and a look inside Tatale. Support the Kickstarter campaign here.