As part of her $1 million pledge to support businesses around the world, Beyonce has donated £8,000 ($10,000) to Nigerian tapas restaurant Chuku’s in Tottenham.
Ifeyinwa Frederick, co-founder of Chuku’s, started the restaurant with her brother Emeka in February 2020. But due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the restaurant began facing several challenges and was on the verge of closing down. Last November, Ifeyinwa and her brother launched a social media campaign to get 600 bookings in six weeks.
The restaurant subsequently became one of 10 winners to receive a grant from Beyonce, who promised to donate $1 million to businesses in cities around the world through her BeyGOOD Foundation as part of her Renaissance world tour.
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“I still can’t quite believe that Beyoncé has backed our restaurant. We’d already felt her impact when she was in town and concertgoers chose Chuku’s for their pre-gig meal, but this is a whole other level,” Ifeyinwa said. Emeka said the superstar’s donation will help prevent the restaurant from fighting to stay open.
“This grant couldn’t be more welcome,” he said. “Every day, we’re fighting to stay open to make it to our fourth birthday. This money will make that fight a little easier and allow us to continue celebrating Nigerian culture on Tottenham’s High Road for the time being.”
The restaurant’s customers include celebrities and footballers who love its tasty Nigerian tapas dishes and who have helped to keep the restaurant running.
The latest move by Beyonce adds to the star’s long philanthropic pursuits. When the coronavirus pandemic struck, Beyonce’s BeyGOOD donated $6 million as part of a COVID-19 relief effort. In partnership with NAACP, Beyonce also launched Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund to support Black business owners disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Her other support programs include funding the education of three budding gemologists with the Beyoncé Knowles-Carter x Lorraine Schwartz GIA Scholarship.
