COVER STORY
"A conduit of culture" Celebrating Black entrepreneurs in Halifax By Emily Bednarz and Josh Creighton
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very February, Nova Scotians celebrate African Heritage Month. This year’s theme is Through our Eyes: The Voices of African Nova Scotians. To honour, recognize, and celebrate our vibrant Black entrepreneurship community and this year’s theme, we sat down with three businesses for the 2022 February issue of Business Voice. Josh Creighton, Community Engagement Specialist with the Halifax Chamber (read more about him on page 22) recommended three outstanding businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs in Halifax: R&B Kitchen, Natural Butter Bar, and Blue Nile Massage & Wellness. Discover their stories below! ALL PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
R&B KITCHEN rnbkitchen.com IG: @rnbkitchen902 “R&B Kitchen is a conduit of displaying our culture through food to the broader Halifax community, to bring authentic African Nova Scotian cuisine to the mainstream market. It's huge for our culture not only in the province, but across the country, because African Nova Scotians are a unique population compared to other Black populations in Canada. We've been here for quite a long time. That's one of the reasons why I love R&B Kitchen, and also...the food is amazing.” 14
— Josh Creighton, Community Engagement Specialist
R&B Kitchen serves up Caribbean inspired soul food, one unique plate at a time. The restaurant has no fixed menu, instead posting a new menu every day to their social media channels. Their creative and inspired approach to soul food has made waves in Halifax. “I wish I could take all the credit,” says co-owner Nevell Provo. “But it's a perfect storm of different people with a passion for food, music, and R&B culture.” Provo credits co-owner and Head Chef Raemiah, his girlfriend, as the spark that inspired the business. “Chef FEBRUARY 2022
Raemiah spent a lot of time in culinary school, going to school in Italy, and working in high-level restaurants in Toronto. Her passion for food is the catalyst that got us started and brings our creativity to life.” On top of that, Provo and his brother Corvell, who is also a co-owner, share a passion and love for food. Provo fell in love with Caribbean food in Ontario, and barbecue soul food in Southern USA. “We really wanted to see that exist here in Halifax,” he says. “And we finally had the opportunity to bring it to life with the help of Chef Raemiah.” R&B Kitchen was founded on the new, daily menu. “It started naturally,”
