about us

Where we come from we say, "Wa mi Dounou". Which means, "come share a meal with me". We at iLéWa cherish this thought because there is nothing more special than gathering with fellow beings, nourishing our bodies, exchanging cultures, and creating memories, all in the simple act of savoring a meal. We hope our spices inspire you to create special, delicious moments with your family.

We want to give our customers unique and flavorful West African spice blends. Most of all, we want to expand people’s palates and give back to our community by making West African food accessible.

 

Meet Adé, Chef & Founder of iLéwa Foods

I learned a passion for sharing the stories of African women from watching my mother.

Adé, talented multi-hyphenate owner of Dounou cuisine was born in Benin, Africa. Her mission is to bridge cultural gaps, and share her home culture by curating authentic West African dining experiences.

“I remember when I was a little girl, my mother would wake up at 5:00 in the morning and prepare us for school. There were five of us in all. At lunchtime, we’d return home from school to a beautiful spread of fragrant delicious food. Sometimes I could smell the food from down the road! After school was over, we were welcomed with yet another spread for dinner. I don’t know how she did this every day! Not only was she a mother of five and a divine cook, but she was also running a boutique and small restaurant just outside our home. In my mother’s home, I understood that food could make us feel warmth, love, and belonging. I’ve tried to capture that feeling every time I enter my kitchen.”