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The busy streets of London in the United Kingdom are driven by productive workforce but much more are incensed by the ever-ravishing menu of the best African restaurant in town, Shakara.
Shakara is co-founded by Osaze Bazuaye, popularly called Bazu, an expert and investor in the hospitality, food and beverage enterprise in the last 20 years. The businessman, who has businesses in Nigeria and the UK, hails from Edo State but raised in Lagos where he attended primary and education education. He studied Economics at the Edo State University, Ekpoma, before going to the London College of Accounting to do a course in ACCA.
Shakara is an extension of projecting Nigerian and African cuisines, culture and its overwhelming hospitality beyond the shores of the continent. The restaurant creates the desire before the food even hits the table for its customers, arousing them just by reading the menu.
Speaking in an interview, Bazu explained why customers are heads over heel for Shakara’s menu.
“I think the cuisine that catches the eye among foreigners and people that are used to enjoying our African food is our ever-popular, ever-irrepressible Nigerian jollof ,” said Bazu
“The Nigerian jollof rice is on the race of its own. In the last three to five years, the Nigerian jollof is the most popular international cuisine; it is the most international dish. Everyday people realise the beauty of the Nigerian jollof. The Nigerian jollof is the main staple food here, out friend plantain (dodo), then our Suya; we have the Lamp Suya and Beef Suya, which are kind of street food you know in Nigeria, so we’ve been able to bring it to our customers here in London, which they have received so well. It is one of their favourites.
“Then we also have the efo riro, which is very famous in the western part of Nigeria. It is a soup or stew that you can use to eat anything like rice, so we put a distinction in the efo riro. Then you have like sea food or fish on efo riro. Those three or four cuisine have been very impactful. Then for our business, we incorporated the Nigerian chinchin. We infused African dishes, the plantain chips which is very famous. So those are just some of our menu that are original. They represent us as Nigerians and Africans and we want the whole world to see what we have to offer. Nigerian and African cuisine can dominate anywhere in the world and everyone would be happy to have it and enjoy it.”
The vision that established Shakara has guided its path to successes in such a short time. It has gained more international prominence after a recognition by Forbes and winning an award at the United Kingdom. Bazuaye said the brand was just performing its “essential duties”.
“We were just doing our job, doing the best we can, giving out the best trying to promote the culture, our food, hospitality, how we receive people, how accommodating we are, we are just trying to do our best, we were not thinking about any award. So the award came and it was like a plus to all our effort, like the testament of the effort we have put into the business over the years. It has been a long time coming,” he stated in an interview.
“Me and my business partner have been in this business for over 20 years plus collectively so. It is like a testament to all the hard work and dedication we’ve put into this job. So it was like a bit of a caring effort that we’ve been recognised as the best new restaurant. And we were also nominated for the Best International Cuisine as well.
“It is a testament to all the effort. We offer like essential service, we are like the police and soldiers. We are selling in Christmas, Easter, everyday. We are trying to give people where to relax, bring their family. It is like a crowning effort to be recognised just under a year of opening my establishment in the United Kingdom, Europe, to be recognised as the best new restaurant, it says a lot. You know like when you are working and you get a pat on the back. It only encourages you to do more”, added Bazu.
