ECNETNews, New York, NY, Thurs. Oct. 17, 2024: UK rapper Central Cee, with Guyanese heritage, has made headlines by donating £15,000 to assist Umana Yana, a struggling restaurant located in Southeast London. Central Cee, known for his hits and impactful music, was inspired to help after seeing the restaurant’s challenges highlighted in a viral video.
Umana Yana, situated at 294 Croxted Rd, SE24 9DA, has faced significant obstacles for over ten years, particularly following the placement of five large telecom boxes outside the restaurant, which adversely affected its operations. The owners, Debbie Monfries and her husband Junior, captured community attention due to their perseverance, further amplified by a journalist’s TikTok sharing of their story.
After watching the video, Central Cee took the initiative to visit the restaurant, where he spent a day learning to prepare traditional Guyanese dishes, including roti, callaloo, and curry. Following the culinary experience, he praised the cuisine and shared a thumbs-up for the delicious meal.
In a heartwarming gesture, Central Cee later surprised Monfries with a message revealing his £15,000 donation—£10,000 earmarked for installing solar panels at the restaurant and an additional £5,000 intended to support the local community.
Central Cee’s rise to prominence began in 2020 with chart-topping singles like “Day in the Life” and “Loading.” His mixtapes, Wild West and 23, achieved remarkable success, debuting in the top two of the UK Albums Chart. In 2022, his track “Doja” became the most-streamed UK rap song on Spotify, and a collaboration with Dave in 2023 produced his first UK number-one hit with “Sprinter.”
For further updates on Umana Yana’s journey, stay tuned to ECNETNews.
