'I Moved From Sleeping in a Car to Running My Own Restaurant' - UK-Based Man
- The founder of Mama Africa in the UK, Kwame Nicholas, has recounted the turbulent times he experienced before opening his restaurant
- Nicholas, who relocated to the UK on October 24, 1999, recalls struggling with homelessness
- The restaurateur revealed that he resorted to sleeping in an abandoned car for about four weeks
- He sat for an interview with DJ Nyaami of SVTV Africa to open up about his life
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A proudly African professional chef, Kwame Nicholas, has recounted turbulent times he endured after relocating to the UK on October 24, 1999, for a better life.
Nicholas had a well-paying job in Africa before jumping on an opportunity to travel outside. The trip was financed by a patron who saw his culinary potential and offered to help maximise his talent.
''I was a private chef for someone in his house, and he observed that I've got better things in life because of my culinary skills.
Source: UGC
''He asked what I wanted; he asked if could write a book for him to sponsor or open a catering school, but I told him relocating to the UK was my biggest dream, and he said no problem,'' he told DJ Nyaami of SVTV Africa.
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Life in the UK
Nicholas recounted that he struggled with homelessness and had to sleep in a car when he first arrived in the UK.
He recalls those times were challenging, working as a bricklayer and janitor to survive. While in Ghana, Nicholas worked as a professional chef at now-defunct Hotel Shangri-la and subsequently as a private cook before traveling.
Asked if he knew someone or had an acquaintance in the UK before moving there, Nicholas said: ''I knew no one.'' He recalled sleeping in an abandoned car when he arrived.
''I struggled; there was a time I slept in a damaged car. I sneaked to sleep in the car. I slept in it for about four weeks. That was in 2002,'' he said.
Thriving business
Now a successful chef running an eatery in Milton Keynes, Nicholas has plans to expand the business with the delivery of foods to his clients.
His brand, Mama Africa, serves all Ghanaian dishes including, waakye, fufu, banku, Tuazafi, Jollof, and many others.
Click to watch his video:
Source: Briefly News
Maryn Blignaut (Human-Interest HOD) Maryn Blignaut is the Human Interest manager and feature writer. She holds a BA degree in Communication Science, which she obtained from the University of South Africa in 2016. She joined the Briefly - South African News team shortly after graduating and has over six years of experience in the journalism field. Maryn passed the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course (Google News Initiative), as well as a set of trainings for journalists by Google News Initiative. You can reach her at: maryn.blignaut@briefly.co.za
Kelly Lippke (Senior Editor) Kelly Lippke is a copy editor/proofreader who started her career at the Northern-Natal Courier with a BA in Communication Science/Psychology (Unisa, 2007). Kelly has worked for several Caxton publications, including the Highway Mail and Northglen News. Kelly’s unique editing perspective stems from an additional major in Linguistics. Kelly joined Briefly News in 2018 and she has 14 years of experience. Kelly has also passed a set of trainings by Google News Initiative. You can reach her at kelly.lippke@briefly.co.za.
