Nigerian-born chef David Olalekan Kamsonhas recently caused a huge stir on social media after news broke that his food trailer had been destroyed in a racially-aggravated attack.
David moved to Moston, Manchester four years ago with £70 to his name along with a dream of selling steak and chicken to a close-knit community.
His family told him he was mad when he was going to start his food business selling West African suya but he continued to follow his path, eventually becoming one of the hot spots for food in his local area.
David built his business up from scratch and was finally able to buy his own food trailer this year. It quickly became the go-to location for the finest West African cuisine, and soon adopted the regime of supplying free food to the homeless on Wednesdays.
Sadly, after being taunted with racist abuse for months, on Tuesday, David says he found out his food van had been stolen and torched.
“I came back from York on Monday night and walked past my trailer and it was still there,” David said.
“The next morning I went to the Post Office and the guys in there asked me what had happened to my trailer.
“They told me that it had been on fire and that it had burnt to the ground. When I saw it, cried for almost five hours.”
David posted pictures on his Instagram page, and showed the trailer completely destroyed. David’s trailer was stolen a few weeks ago, so he bought a lock and parked it in a car park on Albine Street, off Moston Lane.
Now a go-fund-me page has been set up by angry supporters of David, with the page already surpassing £30,000 worth of donations.
You can click here to donate and find out more about David’s truck.
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I am a Descendant of Noble Kings .. I Humble myself and Serve My Community … I worked Hard 3 years 9 months.. I saved money .. no social – bought a catering Trailer for £3000 pounds Spent £438 pounds to bring down from Canterbury Kent to Manchester . So I can serve food in a decent In a decent environment for my community. Some Racist Thief in Moston Named Craig Don’t like the idea of a Black Man Doing Such Business in Moston So he stole the Catering trailer .. sold equipments over £5000 and damage the inside for Fun One Month Later it was found with Him in Blackley Charles town Road Police tried to arrest him , he lied he bought it and couldn’t provide any proof who sold it to him .. He was not charged or disturbed I see him around and I just ignore him I’m a community Lad … known for Huslte and funny vibes 2 days ago on Hartley street this same Craig guy drove pass me and say to me fucking black immigrants come in Moston to do business like they own it.. he went ahead to tell me that trailer should have been his and his boys eyes are on it That was 2 days ago This morning I woke up late at about 10am and I went into the post office where the cashier was telling me oh my God what happened to your trailer , I said nothing is wrong with it it’s fine .. the council loves it and I have just fixed it back and bought back tools in it … He screen nooooo , it’s burnt down to ashes .. I said no , maybe people burn things beside it He said no , I didn’t even mind him because I started laughing So I went to check on £3000 trailer with £2200 worth of equipment Gone in ashes with some things missing … which means it was robbed before burnt This Act of Hate should not be allowed in Moston . This is hateful and sad … All the kids that gets chicken from me , all the street homeless and beggars I give food to Most are not black , I have no colour black or white … I am a community man and should be treated as one , I kept trying to feed myself and shelter my soul .. Someone is hating in Corner I leave this to God , That trailer was God’s gift to me to get out of Hunger . Somebody burn it . #SayNotoRacism
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