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https://www.blackenterprise.com/new-york-irie-jerk-restaraunt-tik-tok/
Niki Gordon runs Irie Jerk, a small “hole in the wall” Jamaican restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, that sells an average of 400 pounds of jerk chicken daily. Gordon’s restaurant was not always as vibrant as it is now before a Tik-Tok star helped give her restaurant a boost to its popularity.
According to NBC News, Nicolas Nuvan and his videographer, Jaime, spotlighted Gordon’s establishment as part of Nuvan’s focus on New York’s boroughs, which he told the outlet is often wholly spontaneous.
“It’s just me and my filmer Jaime, and we almost never have a plan,” Nuvan said. “Sometimes we’ll walk like 30 blocks, and nothing will happen. And sometimes we’ll go out, and we’ll walk around, and something will happen. I’m just somebody that’s interested in cultures and communities and sharing with people.”
Gordon and her establishment felt the result of Nuvan’s focus on Caribbean communities in New York to his 2.3 million followers on TikTok, which she relayed to NBC News. Gordon also discussed her family’s influence on her and her work ethic.
“I think about my grandmother, born 1915,” Gordon said. “I have two nieces who graduated from Howard University. The younger one is summa cum laude, just got her nanotechnology degree from Johns Hopkins. They are descendants of a lady that used to sign her name with the red X because she couldn’t read.”
Gordon continued, “Giving up is not an option. Had she given up, I wouldn’t be here to tell you her story of how much sugarcane she used to chop. So, they have to persevere. She chopped sugarcane so I wouldn’t.”
Nuvan, meanwhile, said that instead of idolizing famous people, more people should look to community institutions like Gordon and her restaurant for inspiration.
“Growing up, we idolize famous people,” Nuvan told NBC News. He added that he believes that Gordon and other people in the community do extraordinary things and “are the people that we should be learning from.”
For her part, Gordon looks at the community, particularly the Caribbean community in New York, as one family that always comes together when they face challenges.
“We have every nation you can think of — everyone,” Gordon said. “And the good thing is we all come together. One thing affects the Jamaican. It affects a Guyanese. It affects a Bajan. It affects a Trini. We just all come together. You know what I mean? Because it’s one Caribbean, and that’s what we have here in Brooklyn.”
Gordon also marveled at the fact that she has customers from every corner of the world who come to her shop to eat her chicken, telling NBC News, “I have customers from Singapore, California, London,” Gordon said. “I mean, these people flew here just to get my chicken. Miracles happen every day. And they do exist.”
Maliko 
Like fashion, the footwear industry on the African continent is well, has already bloomed, and has even outlived a century. More than anything, it has witnessed several creatives across different generations who continuously nurtured their craft, surrounding several existing trends and even future ones, passing this craftsmanship to the next.
The new generation of footwear brands and designers is making great strides with their innovative approaches. They are experimenting with materials, textures, and shapes to meet market needs. In addition, they are incorporating their cultural backgrounds and exploring a variety of cultures, including stories and myths, when creating these new footwear designs.
To understand their practices and explore the footwear scene in the continent, here are brands from different regions of the continent pushing the footwear industry a step forward.
Kiing Daviids (Nigeria)There is something very appealing about Kiing Daviid’s design— the exquisiteness, the approach to details, and perhaps the experiments with textural designs. Founded by King David Enyinnaya in 2013, the brand tries to create footwear that is unlikely to be found in the market— and they have championed it well, reshaping what African designs are and offering possible potentials that lure international audiences into the market. King David’s designs are very artsy, featuring fine illustrations of indescribable patterns, usually in wavy lines, and come in various colors; having artists like Ayra Starr, Victony, and Asakesrc="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Kiing-Daviids-1.jpg" alt="6 Brands Championing The African Footwear Industry " width="400" height="499" /> Ramla (Egypt)
The beautiful thing about the brand Ramla is their unique embellishment which plays with shapes, color and embroidery. Founded by Egyptian designer Reem Hamed in 2017, the brand creates a new twist to slides using vernacular materials from bamboo and dried raffia to actualize utmost results.
Ikwetta (Kenya)Ikwetta, a Kenyan brand founded in 2018, prioritizes comfort and sustainability. The brand collaborates with local artisans to create a balance between modern and traditionaldecoding="async" src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Ikwetta.jpg" alt="6 Brands Championing The African Footwear Industry " width="400" height="400" /> Maliko (Nigeria)
The brand Maliko offers a lovely collection of footwear in warm colors, reflecting their approach to craftsmanship. Founded by Ebuka Omaliko in 2017, the brand creates handmade unisex footwear with a minimalistic design concept that is reminiscent of old trends like Y2K. They also prioritize creating African-inspired clothing using locally sourced materials. The shapes and forms of their products play a significant role in their marketing. Maliko’s best-selling design is a square-shaped, wood-colored slip-on that promises exceptional comfort.
Coast and Koi (South Africa)Caryn Wilensky founded the brand in 2005 after she noticed a gap in the market for stylish, locally handmade footwear. The brand features her practice after her studies in the art of shoe making, exploring her potential in luring an international market for her footwear. Coast and Koi combine a range of colors and materials to shape their artistry and pay great attention to detail. Their Baroque collection is unique, accessorized with gems and goes well for chic and stylish looks. They also incorporate other cultures in their craft, such as the Moroccan- decoding="async" src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Coast-and-Koi.jpg" alt="6 Brands Championing The African Footwear Industry " width="400" height="400" /> Tayree (Egypt)
The Tayree brand has been around for a century. It was founded by Ibrahim Elfatairy and has outlived four generations, cementing its name as one of Egypt’s long-lasting luxury footwear brands. Culture is everything to Tayree, and they blend both traditional and modern design concepts to create intricate luxury for their audience.
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