Put your money where your mouth is, or so the saying goes. As we hear of corporate employees relying on food stamps while their billionaire boss sky-rockets out of the stratosphere, and Brandy Melville being accused of a culture of racism and body-shaming, it’s more apparent than ever that our money—and where we choose to spend it—matters.
“When it comes to their contribution to the economic wealth of the country, Black and Brown businesses are so often undervalued,” says Femi Oyewole of Black Brown Berlin—the platform responsible for a growing directory of Black- and Brown-owned and -allied businesses in the German capital. “They play a major role in building the multi-ethnic identity Berlin likes to claim.” Conceived to “shine the spotlight on Black and Brown excellence across Berlin and beyond,” Black Brown Berlin aims to break down barriers and empower Berlin’s diasporic communities by amplifying them. Its business map is a rolodex spanning every industry from gastronomy to healthcare, making it easier to shop consciously.
BBB’s directory is a vital effort to close the racial financing gap that unfairly favours white (male) business owners. A recent study backed by the Deutsche Post Foundation found that Black business owners were “less likely to receive bank loans, more likely to refrain from applying because they expect denial, and more likely to report that lack of finance reduces their profitability.” A US report showed that Black-owned companies are shutting down twice as fast as other businesses. Another suggested that as many as 80% of Black-owned businesses fail in the first 18 months, compared to 17% of white-owned businesses. For many, the forced closures brought about by the pandemic were the straws that broke the camel’s back.
In an effort to illuminate the crucial contributions of Black and Brown-owned businesses to Berlin’s cultural landscape, INDIE met the owners of Black Brown Berlin’s favourite spots in the city—across the fields of art, culture, food and beauty. Photographer NTI captures four different business owners, styled in Uniqlo’s new AW21 collection, and water-repellent and windproof RDS-certified seamless down jackets—the perfect addition to any casual working wardrobe.
Melion Abraha
Born and bred Berliner Melion Abraha was a locksmith and a computer technician before he went into the business of afro-hair. Noticing a gap in the market for Afroshops in Berlin, he opened Cocoon in 2002, and has operated out of three locations (two of which remain). “This is actually the dream job. I talk a lot… I’m really here all day every day, except Sunday.” 
Born and bred Berliner Melion Abraha was a locksmith and a computer technician before he went into the business of afro-hair. Noticing a gap in the market for Afroshops in Berlin, he opened Cocoon in 2002, and has operated out of three locations (two of which remain). “This is actually the dream job. I talk a lot… I’m really here all day every day, except Sunday.” 
Born and bred Berliner Melion Abraha was a locksmith and a computer technician before he went into the business of afro-hair. Noticing a gap in the market for Afroshops in Berlin, he opened Cocoon in 2002, and has operated out of three locations (two of which remain). “This is actually the dream job. I talk a lot… I’m really here all day every day, except Sunday.”
Potsdamer Str. 193, and Hauptstraße 30, 10827
Barbara Saltman
12 years ago, Barbara Saltman from Montego Bay, Jamaica took over a Caribbean Imbiss, and turned it into YA-MAN Caribbean Soul Food. “I cook, I wash, I clean, I entertain, I do everything. It’s a one man show, and I think that’s one of the reasons people come here, because I interact with them, they feel at home. When I open the door, I say ‘welcome to Jamaica.’ I have a chitchat with the people and they feel warm. And I think this is what is missing in this country.” 
12 years ago, Barbara Saltman from Montego Bay, Jamaica took over a Caribbean Imbiss, and turned it into YA-MAN Caribbean Soul Food. “I cook, I wash, I clean, I entertain, I do everything. It’s a one man show, and I think that’s one of the reasons people come here, because I interact with them, they feel at home. When I open the door, I say ‘welcome to Jamaica.’ I have a chitchat with the people and they feel warm. And I think this is what is missing in this country.” 
12 years ago, Barbara Saltman from Montego Bay, Jamaica took over a Caribbean Imbiss, and turned it into YA-MAN Caribbean Soul Food. “I cook, I wash, I clean, I entertain, I do everything. It’s a one man show, and I think that’s one of the reasons people come here, because I interact with them, they feel at home. When I open the door, I say ‘welcome to Jamaica.’ I have a chitchat with the people and they feel warm. And I think this is what is missing in this country.” 
12 years ago, Barbara Saltman from Montego Bay, Jamaica took over a Caribbean Imbiss, and turned it into YA-MAN Caribbean Soul Food. “I cook, I wash, I clean, I entertain, I do everything. It’s a one man show, and I think that’s one of the reasons people come here, because I interact with them, they feel at home. When I open the door, I say ‘welcome to Jamaica.’ I have a chitchat with the people and they feel warm. And I think this is what is missing in this country.”
Gotzkowskystraße 17, 10555
Louna Sbou
Louna Sbou is one of the 23 people-strong team running Oyoun — an anti-disciplinary epicenter dedicated to decolonial, queer*feminist, migrant and class-critical perspectives. “Funding is the biggest challenge. There is a lot of potential, but a space that supports and promotes communities, including BIPOC, queer and trans* identities needs to be a high priority for funding entities.” 
Louna Sbou is one of the 23 people-strong team running Oyoun — an anti-disciplinary epicenter dedicated to decolonial, queer*feminist, migrant and class-critical perspectives. “Funding is the biggest challenge. There is a lot of potential, but a space that supports and promotes communities, including BIPOC, queer and trans* identities needs to be a high priority for funding entities.” 
Louna Sbou is one of the 23 people-strong team running Oyoun — an anti-disciplinary epicenter dedicated to decolonial, queer*feminist, migrant and class-critical perspectives. “Funding is the biggest challenge. There is a lot of potential, but a space that supports and promotes communities, including BIPOC, queer and trans* identities needs to be a high priority for funding entities.”
Lucy-Lameck-Straße 32, 12049
Elizabeth Kang
Elizabeth Kang was born in Korea, grew up in New York and moved to Berlin in 1992. Since 2018, she has been running Kang Contemporary in Kreuzberg/ Mitte. “The most rewarding part of running this gallery is the team spirit—all the dedicated co-workers, artists, curators and art enthusiasts, who appreciate what we do.” 
Elizabeth Kang was born in Korea, grew up in New York and moved to Berlin in 1992. Since 2018, she has been running Kang Contemporary in Kreuzberg/ Mitte. “The most rewarding part of running this gallery is the team spirit—all the dedicated co-workers, artists, curators and art enthusiasts, who appreciate what we do.” 
Elizabeth Kang was born in Korea, grew up in New York and moved to Berlin in 1992. Since 2018, she has been running Kang Contemporary in Kreuzberg/ Mitte. “The most rewarding part of running this gallery is the team spirit—all the dedicated co-workers, artists, curators and art enthusiasts, who appreciate what we do.” Artworks: Vadim Zakharov 
Elizabeth Kang was born in Korea, grew up in New York and moved to Berlin in 1992. Since 2018, she has been running Kang Contemporary in Kreuzberg/ Mitte. “The most rewarding part of running this gallery is the team spirit—all the dedicated co-workers, artists, curators and art enthusiasts, who appreciate what we do.”
Lindenstraße 90, 10969
Business Curation BLACK BROWN BERLIN
Photography NTI
Photo Assistance LUCA SCHNELL
Styling LAWRIE ABIE in UNIQLO
Styling Assistance ALEXANDRA ROS
Hair & Make-up SHAYNE LEWIS-FENTON
Production PIA AHLERT
Production Assistance ZOË FROST
On-Set Consultant CHANEL KNIGHT
Paid partnership with Uniqlo.
