Tokunbo Koiki, creator of her own West African supper club Tokunbo’s Kitchen, considers herself an accidental entrepreneur. In fact, the Londoner, whose family hails from Nigeria, actually didn’t even like cooking until just a few years ago! Today, Tokunbo has feed more than 5000 people, and Tokunbo’s Kitchen has been featured several times on BBC television as a game changer for the food industry — introducing West African cuisine in a new way to diners. But Tokunbo’s journey to Tokunbo’s Kitchen has been filled with many twists, turns, low moments and the need for lots of resilience.

On this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, Tokunbo talks about the light-bulb moment she realized she was a great cook – and that she could possibly create a business out of this skill, how she evolved from a street food vendor to a buzzed-about supper club, how she survived the hard times that almost made her want to quit everything and how she created a dining experience that combined cultural immersion with conversation.

On this episode you’ll learn:

• Why you have to be unafraid to ask questions.
• Do your market research — including your competitors.
• How to “copy, adapt and paste.”
• One of the most important investments you’ll make as a small business.

Visit Tokunbo Koiki at TokunbosKitchen.com

Connect with Tokunbo’s Kitchen at…

Twitter: @TokunbosKitchen

Facebook: @TokunbosKitchen

Instagram: @TokunbosKitchen

Connect with Tokunbo Koiki on…

Twitter: @Toksyk27

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Read Tokunbo’s Medium article about not feeling like a chef

Oprah Winfrey

Yoruba

African Cup of Nations

Vogue magazine

Femi Kuti

African food fest in South Bank Centre in London

Tony Robbins

West Africa Cooks blog

Come Dine with Me TV show

John Boyega

Issa Rae

Ronke Lawal, Nigerian publicist who works with Tokunbo

The Support is Sexy podcast episode that Tokunbo says saved her life: Featuring Trey Anthony

“Daydreams Do Come True: My Remote Year” episode of Support is Sexy podcast

WATCH Tokunbo Koiki and Tokunbo’s Kitchen featured on BBC Africa

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[Music: “Time Flux” by Revolution Void]

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