Bloomington has many international restaurants, but until recently there were no African food options. IU alumnae Kehinde Akinro, Bukie Olokun and Kehinde Ligali changed this when they opened their online delivery-based restaurant, Arewa, in August.
Arewa's menu includes popular West African staples such as jollof rice and plantains. Akinro said jollof rice is a traditional dish eaten in most households in Nigeria.
“We add a tomato base with different spices,” Ligali said. “It's slowly cooked just to infuse the flavors, and we also kind of cook it to a point where it's not soggy, it's not mushy, it's just well-cooked.”
Ligali and Akinro said they met through their involvement in the African Student Association at IU, and Olokun met the other women in their Yoruba class, which is a language spoken in West Africa.
Olokun said she noticed the lack of African food options in Bloomington, and when she brought it up with Akinro and Ligali, the three women discovered they all had the same idea: to open a restaurant serving West African cuisine.
Akinro said their first step to opening the restaurant was to ensure they would have a consumer base in Bloomington. So, they sent out a survey to get a sense of what community members wanted in a restaurant.
“We were really overwhelmed by the response,” Olokun said. “People really wanted to learn more about African culture and have the opportunity to engage with the culture through food because who doesn't love food?”
Olokun said the restaurant's name, Arewa, is a homage to the class in which they first had the idea. Arewa means beauty in Yoruba.
“We chose Arewa because we wanted to share the beauty of West African culture through food, and we wanted to share the beauty of diversity of IU and the Bloomington community in general,” Olokun said in an email.
Ligali said they were attracted to the idea of creating a delivery-only restaurant not only because it fit their budget but because delivery-based restaurants are becoming more popular.
The restaurant's food is prepared in the One World KitchenShare, a commercial kitchen, and then delivered for a $1 delivery fee.
Akinro, Ligali and Olokun are the restaurant's only official employees, but they said many volunteers have helped them in their ventures. Ligali and Akino said many volunteers came from ASA and that the student organization partnered with Arewa to promote the restaurant through marketing and social media.
Akinro, Ligali and Olokun said the funds for the restaurant come from their own pockets, with some help from family members.
“We’re just trying to make ends meet while still being able to support this venture of ours,” Ligali said.
Ligali, Akinro and Olokunsaid their main goal for the restaurant is to give back to the Bloomington and IU community.
“It's always been the basis from the beginning,” Akinro said. “It's for the people. It's not just about the business plan or the food. It's about the culture and the love we have for the community."
Arewa is currently open for delivery from noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
