A Beltsville, Maryland-based African cuisine restaurant chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Case filings suggest that Swahili Village Bar & Restaurant is aiming to readjust its finances amid a wide gap between its assets and liabilities.
The filing was submitted under the company’s legal name, Swahili Village Bar & Restaurant Boma, LLC. The chain is known for its East African cuisine and traditional Swahili flavors across its multiple locations.
Swahili Village Bar & Restaurant Boma, LLC Files for Chapter 11
Facing financial strain, the company filed its voluntary Chapter 11 petition on May 12, 2026. As the authorized representative, founder Kevin Onyona signed the petition prior to filing.
Court records available on PACER, show that proceedings are being held in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia. Attorney Joseph Selba of Tydings Rosenberg LLP is the legal counsel in the case.
Highlights from the Latest Petition
According to the summary of assets and liabilities listed in the case filings, Swahili Village Bar & Restaurant Boma, LLC owes more than what it owns. While the company’s liabilities are more than $5 million, its assets are just over $170,000.
The company also submitted a list of creditors who have the 20 largest unsecured claims and are not insiders. These creditors included Avion Funding, Chase Bank, Comptroller of Maryland, Propel Advance, and others. NewCo Capital Group held the largest unsecured claim of more than $253,000.
Court filings indicate that funds will be available for distribution to the unsecured creditors.
Another crucial filing included a statement of financial affairs, which showed changes in the company’s gross revenue from 2024 to the filing date.
The company also submitted a corporate ownership statement, according to the filing details.
A summary of the Chapter 11 petition is shared here:
- Filing Date: May 12, 2026
- Court and Jurisdiction: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia
- Type of Filing: Active, Voluntary Petition
- Chapter: 11
- Case Number: 26-00247-ELG
- Estimated Assets: Between $100,001 and $500,000
- Estimated Liabilities: Between $1,000,001 and $10 million
- Estimated Creditors: Between 1 and 49
- Reason for Filing: Restructure business under court supervision
Case filings show that certain affiliates of the company have their separate bankruptcy filings in the court.
About the Company
According to its website, the East African restaurant chain offers a range of Kenyan and Swahili food items. A few highlight items at the chain include goat, tilapia, samosas, jollof rice, and vegetarian offerings.
As of now, the chain’s operations are spread across Beltsville, Newark, and Washington, D.C. Through the years, it has also served customers through its catering offerings.
The latest filing reflects the restaurant chain’s efforts to reorganize its business while continuing to serve customers across the U.S. East Coast. New developments in the case are expected to emerge in the coming days as the bankruptcy proceedings continue.
