Why Ada Osakwe Wants the World to Taste African Cuisine

In August 2025, Ada Osakwe soft-launched the archetypal U.S. determination for Nuli, a health-forward fast-casual edifice that showcases African superfoods and locally grown produce. Nuli has operated 10 locations successful Lagos, Nigeria. Since establishing Nuli, Ada Osakwe has been intentional astir sourcing caller workplace nutrient from section growers passim the region, blending it with highly nutritious African superfoods to make innovative wraps, stir-fried bowls, salads, juices, and smoothies..

Afrobeats and manner person ever been large taste exports to the world. But Ada said, “African civilization has truthful overmuch to connection the satellite beyond Afrobeats euphony and African fashion. It’s present clip for U.S. consumers to clasp African cuisine, particularly successful a format that’s acquainted and convenient for them. I’m thrilled that we get to stock the nutritional powerfulness of our unsocial superfoods with the D.C. assemblage done our innovative paper that is caller and natural, utilizing lone locally grown fruits and vegetables sourced from farmers crossed the DMV,” she continued. “Food has ever been a span betwixt cultures, and I cannot hold to spot the meaningful connections that volition beryllium formed done our offering.”

The curated Nuli paper reflects the culinary traditions from assorted regions crossed Africa’s 54 countries. It honours the blend of cultures wrong the continent, including influences from Mediterranean and Indian culinary traditions.

In this little interview, Ada Osakwe discusses opening her archetypal Nuli determination successful the U.S., the challenges she faced and her hopes for the acquisition of anyone who visits Nuli successful Washington. Enjoy the conversation!

Hello Ada. I anticipation you’re doing okay. How are you feeling today?

Hello. I consciousness fantastic, filled with gratitude.

Congratulations connected launching a Washington subdivision for Nuli! How bash you consciousness astir this achievement?

Thank you precise much. I’m inactive taking it each successful that the imagination has present been actualised. 

Looking back, what was the defining infinitesimal that made you judge a Nigerian cuisine marque could thrive successful the United States?

It was ever portion of the plan, since the inception of Nuli 9 years ago. I was bushed of radical paying a batch of wealth to ain the franchises of overseas brands successful Nigeria and the remainder of Africa, frankly. Then these brands travel successful and statesman to effort to accommodate their menus to the section Nigerian palette. Think suya pizza. I asked myself wherefore we weren’t alternatively trying to instrumentality our ain homegrown nutrient brands global. Why were we not sharing our culinary brilliance with the remainder of the world, and successful ways that were adaptable? This became my ngo astatine Nuli: to prov...