TETA ISIBO

Creative designer reinventing traditional crafts

Founder of Inzuki Designs

Country: Rwanda

Sector: Jewellery, Accessories and Interior Decor


Teta Isibo is the founder and creative force behind Inzuki Designs a young Rwandan brand specializing in jewelry, accessories and interior decor. Teta's creations are hand-made using local craft skills and materials - she works with numerous local women's cooperatives to create vibrant, quality pieces. With no background in fashion or business, Teta quit her job as an urban planner in Kigali to launch Inzuki, which means 'bees' in the local language. This has grown into a popular Rwandan brand with a boutique located in the Heart of Kigali City. Teta is now targeting international markets including the rest of Africa, Europe, Asia and North America through distributors and an online store. 

Teta is proudly part of an ever growing Rwandan cultural renaissance that is seeing growing innovation and an increasing number of young entrepreneurs and trendsetters propelling the country to the next level.

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Teta's Startup Story 

Twenty-nine-year old Teta Isibo is a self-taught designer and the founder of Inzuki. The young Rwandan brand specializes in handmade jewellery, accessories and interior decor made from local materials. Based in Kigali, Inzuki Designs works with various nearby women’s cooperatives to create products that fuse craftsmanship and contemporary style.

Inzuki Designs is a new, fast growing Rwandan brand specialising in African-inspired jewellery, accessories and interior décor, all handmade from local materials.

Inzuki Designs specializes in Jewellery, Accesories and interior decor. It is hand made Rwandan design with a global appeal, using local organic materials. Teta is in charge of the design, while members of women-cooperatives around the country are in charge of manufacturing the products.

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Teta's story is one that could inspire many other young aspirant women entrepreneurs in Africa. She had a dream not only to build a business and a brand that was African inspired, but to also take it to the global marketplace and build a loyal client following. The Inzuki brand is definitely going places and is one to watch for the future.  --- Melanie Hawken, LoA founder & editor-in-chief

What's the inspiration behind the name 'Inzuki'?

"Inzuki means bees," says Isibo, explaining the inspiration behind the company's name. "It's an attitude, like a sweet but fierce attitude; the way bees give honey so they have that sweet aspect, but then you can't really mess with them because they would sting you."

“Inzuki represents Bold, Authentic and Colorful Design…Where Traditional Craft Meets Contemporary Style. We achieve that through our collaboration with numerous local cooperatives that use their skills to translate our authentic designs into vibrant quality pieces that are African inspired and globally loved”

“Why do we always dwell on the challenges? I think that Rwandan women have a lot of opportunities. We have equal rights to land, education and employment. I am not saying that there are no challenges but we tend to focus too much on them while the opportunities are right there staring us in the face. The men come and grab those opportunities while we are too busy complaining about the challenges”

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Awards & Accolades

Teta's recent awards and honours include:

  • Winner of the REAL Business Accelerator and The REAL-Banque Populaire Entrepreneurship Award 2012