Nina Sodji pursues passion for African cuisine and education through local restaurant

Growing up in Togo, West Africa, Nina Sodji had a desire to inspire others through food.

After coming to America in 1994, Sodji attended culinary school at Metropolitan Community College and pursued her goal to open a restaurant while raising two children.

During this time, Sodji says Oprah Winfrey showed her she could succeed through hard work.

“I was like, ‘Wow, I can do that, too,’” Sodji says. “‘I can just be me.’”

A dream realized

Now the owner and executive chef of Okra African Grill, Sodji says her passion for cooking stems from her desire to educate people about African culture and cuisine.

“I think it comes from within because I just have that fire to be able to teach people,” Sodji says.

Sodji’s restaurant, which serves West African dishes, is part of that initiative.

“A lot of people still ask, ‘What is African food?’” Sodji says. “I want to be able to bring African food to the masses in a way that is appealing and delicious.”

A True inspiration

The name for her restaurant is just as meaningful as its mission. Sodji says her son gave her the idea when he observed how she made okra sauce, an African staple.

Since its founding, Sodji says Okra African Grill has grown to offer DoorDash delivery, catering, and online ordering options. As she expands her business, Sodji’s goal is to build a worldwide brand while continuing her mission of education.

Sodji says her dream is to teach classes on African cuisine. She also hopes to enter the nonprofit sector and help eliminate worldwide hunger.

A mantra for success

As she pursues her goals, Sodji says she fights discouragement by remembering the importance of perseverance and patience. She shares this advice with others, as well.

“Whatever you do, don’t give it up,” Sodji says. “Life is not handed to you. You have to go grab it.”

About Nina Sodji

Nina Sodji first immigrated to American in 1994 with a business visa, hailing from Togo, a West Africa nation. She began her career as a nurse who had a growing passion for cooking. Nina ran with her heart, opened an African grocery market in Omaha in 2004, and later added a restaurant and had wild success…until her lease ended and she moved locations. The new location didn’t work out quite as well, but she didn’t back down. Nina was fueled by the desire to succeed, enrolled in culinary school at Metro Community College and continued pursuing her dream to open her own kitchen, all while raising two young children.

It was at MCC Nina that noticed the foods she grew up enjoying in Togo were derived from lots of cultures: French, Spanish, German, Indian and neighboring African countries. The flavors she grew up loving were a result of her country’s complicated history of colonization, invasion, and political unrest. But the flavors were magical together and sparked her curiosity in experimenting with how her favorite Togolese dishes could have wider appeal by playing around with these influences.

Okra African Grill is Nina’s vision to bring these dishes to life in Omaha. An homage to all African cultures and the transcontinental history that have influenced Togolese foods, her food tells a complex story. And when you visit Okra African Grill, you have the opportunity to build your own experience. It’s this kind of self-expression that keeps Nina invigorated and inspired to serve more dishes to those hungry to learn.