More students coming from a variety of African countries

There are more and more students coming all the way from a variety of African countries to study their degrees in the UK. It becomes relevant to look at different ways to make these students settle well at university and feel more at home. 

According to the World Remit , there were more than 43,000 African students that came to the UK in 2022, the highest proportion of which were from Nigeria. As they explained, there is a growing trend towards African students wanting to gain higher education qualifications in the UK. 

It is normal that this process of settling into a new country can be overwhelming and homesickness is a feeling that any traveller is likely to experience. It is important to make this experience smoother for any student and help with the cultural shock of moving to another country. 

Coventry has a wide range of places for you to experience. Here are some of our suggestions for you to grab some African food: 

• Junction 1Ten

In this restaurant you can find a variety of African dishes such as Jollof Rice and you can choose to have it with fish, chicken or beef. They also have a variety of yam porridge dishes , boiled yam with eggs, fried yam with sauce , and much more! 

Location: 124 Lower Ford St, Coventry CV1 5PQ

• Anode Finger Licking

As their name says, they have a variety of finger licking dishes that you can try and won't get enough of! They have porridge yam , fried yam and egg yam. They also have a variety of homely soups such as Egusi soup, Oha soup, Okra soup and much more. There's a wide selection of rice & beans dishes. 

Location: 80 Far Gosford St, Coventry CV1 5DZ

• Indigo Afro Spot

Indigo Afrospot is a bar and restaurant with high quality services that specialises in grills and African foods like Nyamachoma. They have great reviews online! Their menu is pretty varied, they have Garlic Balti, Tikka Balti, Prawn Balti and much more. They have a curry menu, biryani dishes, sizzling tandoori and a vegetarian menu. 

Location: 151 Warwick Rd, Coventry CV3 6AU

You can also find a variety of African inspired supermarkets with all sorts of food. This can be a great way for you to connect with your culture and find some of your favourite snacks.

• Kumasi Market

If you're looking to cook a home recipe, then make sure to visit Kumasi Market as they have a wide range of African fresh products!

Location: 78 Far Gosford Street, Coventry, CV1 5DZ

• Kwahu Supermarket

If you're looking for fresh and frozen African products, you should consider Kwahu Supermarket. You can check their website to read some reviews and see some of the products that they have in the store. 

Location: 407 Foleshill Rd, Foleshill, Coventry CV6 5AQ

• B & T Supermarket

B&T is an African supermarket and they are a specialist in African foods & frozen foods and a variety of snacks. They also have a variety of African household products.

Location: 92 Far Gosford St, Coventry CV1 5EA

• Coventry Market

If you're looking for some fresh products and spices to cook a home meal, then the Coventry Market is a great place to explore. They have a variety of fresh vegetables, fish, meat and local products.

Location:  Queen Victoria Rd, Coventry CV1 3HT

Luckily there's also a variety of places for you to get a new hairstyle. Here are some of our suggestions:

• All Nations Barbershop

If you fancy a new haircut, then All Nations Barbershop is the perfect place for you to go! If you're African, you'll feel right at home. There's a Rwandan barber, a Nigerian barber, a Ghanaian and a Gambian.

Location: 63A Far Gosford St, Coventry CV1 5DZ

• Fablet Beauty Market

In "Fablet Beauty Market" you can buy a variety of beauty products and wigs. They have a Facebook page, where you can find some examples of their work. Location: Fairfax St, Coventry, CV1 5RX

We hope this guide helps you find some places that are familiar and where you can find comfort.   If you rather find a cheaper option for food than eating out, then pop into one of the grocery stores, buy some African products and invite your friends for a night in, eating a home made recipe. If you have friends from different countries, it's also worth planning a potluck, where each guest brings a dish. This can be a great idea to get to know other people's cultures and share interesting facts about you and your country!  

Check our TikTok based on this guide. Here you can get an insight on the products you'll be able to find in these stores!