Photo credit: YolanDa Brown
YolanDa Brown has raised $313,000 for new London restaurant and music venue Soul Mama. Here’s the latest.
Musician, broadcaster, author and philanthropist YolanDa Brown has partnered with music executive Adetokunbo “T” Oyelola to raise £248,148 for Soul Mama, the largest amount ever raised for a restaurant on Kickstarter. Digital Music News took a look at the Kickstarter campaign period kicktrakwhich you can see below.
The new grassroots music venue and restaurant in Islington, London will open in Autumn 2023. Accompanied by live jazz, soul and reggae music, Soul Mama offers a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere with quality cuisine that blends authentic flavors from Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Soul Mama’s launch comes at a time when 22 grassroots venues have reportedly closed since April 2022.
The Music Venue Trust predicts that 2023 will be the worst year for music venue closures since 2014, and estimates one venue will be lost every week. Soul Mama brings hope to keep the live music scene alive with performances from emerging artists, local talent and established artists we know and love.
“Music and food have always been my two great loves, and I’ve always believed in their power to nourish not only our bodies but also our souls,” says YolanDa Brown says of the new company. “Over the years, I have been fortunate to experience countless memorable moments around the table with friends and family, whether celebrating the joys of life or finding solace in its challenges.”
In addition, YolanDa will establish the Soul Mama Foundation, a non-profit, charitable foundation with 5 percent of all profits going to the foundation to support causes related to women, children and education. Soul Mama aims to be deeply rooted in the local community, providing a much needed platform for underrepresented musicians and chefs from around the world whilst also contributing to the development of the live music and restaurant sector in the UK.