Local restaurant Soul Afrique is collaborating with JC Supper Club (9053 Riverview) to bring Ghanaian cuisine, music, and overall “good vibes” to the Baden neighborhood on Wednesdays from 5–10 p.m. Afrobeat Wednesdays include hookah from Ka’Mor Hookah and access to the club’s two full bars, as well as food from Dominic and Nikki Opoku-Tuffuor, the husband-and-wife duo behind Soul Afrique.
The Menu
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Every meal from Soul Afrique is homemade and seasoned with Dominic and Nikki’s specially crafted spice blends. At Afrobeat Wednesday, the top-selling entrée is stewed oxtail (see lead image), a rich and savory dish. Pepper sauced wings (pictured below) are the next most popular dish, followed closely by curry chicken.
The menu also features okra stew and peanut butter soup paired with eba, a form of starch that’s ideal for absorbing and enhancing the soups’ flavors. Side dishes include jollof and curry rice, cabbage (pictured at right), and black-eyed peas.
To Dominic, Soul Afrique stands out because of its unique flavors, which “you can’t find anywhere else.”
Attentive customer service is also a top priority for the couple. “We welcome questions,” Nikki says. “We offer samples. If it’s something you’re not familiar with, which it usually isn’t—we want you to sample it before you commit to buying it.”
Although Soul Afrique doesn’t have its own brick-and-mortar space, the restaurant offers catering services and a more extensive menu. Interested customers can reach out directly to the business to request other dishes, such as goat or pineapple-glazed whole tilapia. As Soul Afrique expands its customer base, Nikki and Dominic plan to add these meals (and more) to their regular offerings.
The Atmosphere
Alongside the food, drinks, and dancing during Afrobeat Wednesdays, guests can find a growing community.
To start, the music selection is tailored to ensure that different regions are represented. “We do Afrobeats, we do amapiano—these are all sounds from where I’m from: Ghana, West Africa,” Dominic says. “We also have Nigerian music, East African music, and we still have hip-hop and R&B in there, just so no one feels left out, because I know people want to also hear music from their home country.”
Since launching Afrobeat Wednesdays on May 24, Dominic says the weekly pop-up has grown increasingly popular. Repeat customers are introducing the event to friends and returning with larger groups each week.
“We are a family, and each person we run into, we treat them as such,” Dominic says. “That encourages people to come in, because we just want to share love, laughter, a great time, and support each other as much as we can.”
The Background
Starting a restaurant was originally Nikki’s idea. As Dominic cooked for her, she would emphasize the quality of the food—and the potential to share it with others. Although Dominic was reluctant at first, he eventually agreed to put his passion in the kitchen toward a potential business. They started Soul Afrique in February 2022, operating mainly out of their house and through pop-ups. Dominic is Soul Afrique’s main chef, while Nikki helps ensure consistency for the restaurant’s offerings as the “designated taste-tester.”
In a few years, Nikki says, the couple hopes to own a food truck or a physical storefront to bring their dishes to a wider audience. For now, the community can support Soul Afrique by stopping by Afrobeat Wednesdays every week.
“Word of mouth goes a long way,” Dominic says. “Just by giving us a post, shout-out, or a review, all of those things play a huge part in our visibility. Come out, try the food, and you might find your next favorite meal on our menu.”
