YolanDa Brown Raises $314,000 to Build Music Venue and Restaurant Soul Mama

Photo Credit: YVMV Studios

YolanDa Brown has achieved a Guinness World Record for the most money pledged worldwide for a Kickstarter restaurant project with $314,000 for venue and eatery Soul Mama.Musician, composer, and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL, alongside music manager Adetokunbo “T” Oyelola, have earned a Guinness World Records title for raising the most money for a restaurant project through Kickstarter. Together, they raised a whopping £248,148 ($314,000) for YolanDa’s music venue and restaurant, Soul Mama — the largest amount raised by a restaurant worldwide on the Kickstarter platform.

The charity Music Venue Trust found in an annual report that 125 live music spaces permanently closed in 2023. YolanDa’s new venue aims to bring opportunities for independent artists while changing the narrative of venue ownership and creating more diversity in an under-funded space.

“In setting a Guinness World Records title, Soul Mama didn’t just secure funds; we wove a tapestry of dreams shared by thousands. A testament to what we can achieve when we unite and believe. This Record is not just a number — it’s a promise to fill every visit with laughter, comfort, and a sense of belonging,” says YolanDa.“At Soul Mama, we’re more than a music venue and restaurant; we’re a home for dreamers and believers who see the world not just as it is, but as it could be, full of joy, connection, and shared moments that linger in the heart long after the night ends,” she continues. “A big thank you to everyone who supported us so far and the new people who will discover us along our journey and jump on the Soul Mama Train.”

“This is an astonishing achievement, and a testament to the passion, drive, and determination it takes to make a game-changing project like Soul Mama come to fruition,” said Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records. “And how exciting that this is just the start for this ambitious fusion of food, music, and culture — I can’t wait to see what happens next!”

The London-based Soul Mama was listed in the “top restaurants to look forward to in 2024 list” by the Evening Standard. With an eclectic programming planned, Soul Mama will offer jazz, soul, gospel, reggae, comedy, fireside chats, concerts for children and family audiences, plus much more, alongside authentic fusion cuisine from Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. Soul Mama is due to open this spring, with more information to be revealed soon.