SAMMAS AGENCY

Afrikana

Category :

Content, Social Media

Client :

Afrikana

Year :

2024

Location :

London, UK

01 . The Task

Afrikana is a bold and innovative dining concept that brings the rich, diverse flavours of African cuisine to the UK. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and unique fusion dishes, Afrikana blends traditional African recipes with modern twists to create a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. With a growing number of locations across the UK, Afrikana wanted to boost its digital presence and engage a broader audience by showcasing the vibrancy and authenticity of its food and drinks online.

To achieve this, Afrikana partnered with Sammas, a creative digital marketing agency, to develop a visually stunning and engaging social media strategy. Sammas set out to capture the essence of Afrikana’s African roots while presenting the food and drinks in a way that would appeal to food lovers, influencers, and adventurous diners alike.

02 . The Solution

1. Immersive Visual Storytelling
Sammas recognised that Afrikana’s food is more than just a meal—it’s a cultural experience. To bring this to life on social media, Sammas focused on immersive visual storytelling that highlighted the colours, textures, and artistry of Afrikana’s dishes.

Key content elements included:

  • Vivid food photography that captured the vibrant colours of Afrikana’s dishes, such as jollof rice, suya skewers, plantain platters, and flavourful curries. Each dish was styled to emphasise its bold presentation and mouthwatering appeal.
  • Close-up shots of key ingredients, spices, and herbs, such as African pepper, coriander, and ginger, to showcase the authenticity of the cuisine.
  • Cultural details integrated into each post, such as traditional serving styles, woven baskets, and Afrocentric table settings, bringing Afrikana’s African heritage into the frame.

2. Focus on Drinks & Fusion Cocktails
Afrikana’s signature cocktails and drinks were also a key part of the brand’s offering, and Sammas made sure they stood out on social media. Using high-quality videography and photography, Sammas created content that showcased:

  • Creative fusion cocktails like the The Afrikana Fruit Punch and Cloud Nine, with slow-motion pours, colourful garnishes, and stunning glassware to captivate followers.
  • Close-up videos of bartenders crafting cocktails, mixing fresh African ingredients like tamarind and hibiscus, and using exciting techniques such as dry ice for added visual drama.

3. Dynamic Reels and Stories
Recognising the importance of short-form video content, Sammas leveraged Instagram Reels and Stories to highlight Afrikana’s food preparation, customer reactions, and the restaurant’s lively atmosphere. Key elements of the video strategy included:

  • Behind-the-scenes content of chefs preparing signature dishes, giving followers a sneak peek into the magic of Afrikana’s kitchen.
  • Interactive Reels featuring popular African dishes being served, drizzled with sauces, or plated with vibrant garnishes, engaging viewers with tantalising visuals.
  • Customer experience snapshots, with diners enjoying meals, tapping into the community-driven and celebratory aspect of African dining culture.

4. Consistent Visual Identity
Sammas worked to develop a consistent visual identity for Afrikana’s social media channels, using a colour palette inspired by African earth tones—deep reds, golds, oranges, and greens. This visually linked the online content with Afrikana’s in-restaurant design and branding. Posts were also organised into visually cohesive grids on Instagram, ensuring a professional and aesthetically pleasing look when viewed collectively.

5. Engaging Captions and Storytelling
Sammas paired stunning visuals with engaging, culturally-infused captions that told the story behind each dish. From explaining the origins of a dish like peri-peri chicken to highlighting the use of indigenous African ingredients, each post offered followers an insight into the cultural and culinary significance of Afrikana’s menu. Sammas also used calls to action to encourage users to tag friends, visit specific locations, or book tables for upcoming events or special menu items.

03 . The Result

Sammas successfully brought Afrikana’s rich African heritage and innovative cuisine to life on social media, using stunning visual content and strategic storytelling. By focusing on the vibrancy and authenticity of the food and drink offerings, Sammas helped Afrikana grow its online presence, engage a wider audience, and drive tangible results in the form of increased reservations and customer interest.

This case study highlights the power of expertly crafted social media content to transform brand visibility and engage audiences in the competitive restaurant industry.

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