Meet the Nigerian, Kenn Ayere, who owns the biggest African eatery in South Africa

                Mr. & Mrs. Kenn Ayere                Entrance of  HomeBaze               Customers eating at HomeBaze                                                              

Here in Nigeria, the name Kenn Ayere, might not ring a bell, but in South Africa, where he has lived and worked in the last 18 years, he is a household name among his countrymen, South Africans and members of the diplomatic community, this SHOWBIZPLUSng can authoritatively reveal.

Unlike many of our people, who are into all kinds of criminal activities in South Africa, this hard working and respected Nigerian from Ishan, Edo State, has been making his nation proud in a foreign land since 2003, when he opened Home Baze African Cuisine.

Unarguably, the biggest and most sought after African cuisine chain in the whole of South African today, it daily plays host to Nigerians and non Nigerians looking for quality African delicacies to enjoy.

The one stop eatery for all African cuisines, with bias for Nigerian menu, according to Ayere, had hosted several dignitaries, including Presidents, Ministers, Senior Diplomats, leading celebrities, entertainers and top government functionaries, since inception.

On what informed his passion for African cuisines, Ayere, the former bureau chief of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in South Africa, for four and half years, disclosed that the dearth of Nigerian and African foods in Nelson Mandela’s nation was what ignited his passion and ultimately led to the birth of wave making Home Baze.

“Like I said, I’ve lived in South Africa for 18 years with my wife and four children. I’m a journalist and was the bureau chief of NAN for four and half year in South Africa before finally quitting to pursue my own business.

However, in my many years of living here, I discovered that those of us residing here and the ones coming for holidays hardly find a place to eat good and quality Nigerian or African foods. In fact, in most cases, I end up hosting and cooking at home for the many Nigerians visiting South Africa. It was in the course of regularly hosting our people here that the idea of Home Baze African Cuisine came into being in 2003.

We began the food chain in Johannesburg and later moved to Pretoria,” he told SHOWBIZPLUSng in a phone interview.

Shedding more light, Ayere, who has interests in other fields of business in South Africa and was equally, the former chairman of the organizing committee of the Nigerian Achievement Awards, in South Africa, which was graced by President Goodluck Jonathan, insisted there was a huge gap in the African food business prior to his coming on board.

“Sincerely, prior to our establishing Home Baze, it was pretty difficult for Nigerians living here and those visiting to find a place to eat our foods in the high brow areas of South Africa. Then you only see Chinese, Italian, Indian and other nations restaurants. Our coming saved Nigerians and other African nationals that huge stress, because aside Nigerian foods, we also serve delicacies from other African countries. We have hosted presidents, ministers, top diplomats, VIPs and leading entertainers here. Rita Marley and Oprah Winfrey’s crew relish eating African cuisines here whenever they are in South Africa.”

Ayere, the current president of Nigerians In Diaspora (NIDO) and ex president of the Patriots Club, both in South Africa, further disclosed that their mission at Home Baze, which he jointly runs with his darling wife, Nogie, is basically to popularize Nigerian and African foods in South Africa.

“We are not just an eatery, but a quality eatery with class and sophistication. My wife’s catering background has been very beneficial to us. She is the director of operations and runs Home Baze, while. I’m the chairman and founder. We are located in prime areas in South Africa. In Johannesburg, we are located in Sandton and Randburg, while in Pretoria; we are directly opposite the US Embassy. It gives me joy seeing top diplomats coming in to savour and devour Nigerian delicacies with relish. Another plus is that we operate in hygienic environments and our services are very affordable. It might also interest you to know that South Africans eat more Nigerian foods than us.”

Aside playing big in the eatery business in South Africa, Ayere is also making a huge impact in the hospitality sector with Golden Rose Lodge and Conference Centre, a member of the Home Baze group, which is closely situated within the upscale Sandton environs.

On plans of coming home to open an extension of his thriving Home Baze, Ayere, a onetime president of the men group of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (The Ambassadors), in South Africa, insisted there is no place like home.

“Why not, in fact, as we speak, plan is on to establish a Nigerian branch of Home Baze soon, sincerely there is no place like home. Aside establishing a Nigerian branch, we also intend storming other African countries to have our presence felt. I visit Nigeria a lot and equally miss home so much, but my only pain is the poor state of our electricity.

Truth is that many of us want to come home and invest in our fatherland, but the issue of electricity is a big challenge. We hope and pray they fix it soon.”