Zweli’s Owners Focus on Bantu Communities for Next Durham Restaurant Ekhaya | Eater Carolinas

"Opened in 2018 by restaurateurs Zweli and Leonardo Williams, this Zimbabwean restaurant quickly became a Durham fixture and earned local honors such as “Best Chef” and “Best New Restaurant” from Indy Week. Zweli, originally from Zimbabwe, and Leonardo, from eastern North Carolina, met as students at NC Central University; he later taught in Durham Public Schools while she worked across restaurants and food-service departments before realizing her dream of ownership. Beyond its cuisine, the restaurant is noted for strong community engagement—providing free meals during the pandemic and participating in local civic efforts, including Leonardo’s role in forming the Durham Small Business Coalition." - Erin Perkins