Thabiso Mahlape, a publishing entrepreneur giving voice to South Africa’s exciting new black authors

September 16, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Thabiso Mahlape, founder of Blackbird Books (South Africa) — **Thabiso Mahlape**, founder of Blackbird Books (South Africa)

To change the literary landscape of a country and a continent takes passionate and pioneering publishing champions, and South Africa has found one such champion in Thabiso Mahlape, founder of Blackbird Books. She is establishing a new and exciting framework for South African narratives and is winning author and readers fans alike with her business.

Kehinde Falade, a Nigerian entrepreneur creating a natural solution to hair growth and scalp problems

September 16, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Kehinde Falade, founder of Osteena Range of Cosmetics (Nigeria) — **Kehinde Falade**, founder of Osteena Range of Cosmetics (Nigeria)

For many people, maintaining healthy hair and scalps can be a challenge, particularly for those trying to avoid products that use harsh chemicals. And that’s where Kehinde Falade and her company, Osteena Range of Cosmetics, come to the rescue, using organic natural ingredients to encourage new and healthy hair growth for clients.

Maneo Mapharisa, an entrepreneur on a mission to get Lesotho girls coding to bridge the STEM gender gap

September 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Maneo Mapharisa, Co-founder of Girls Coding Academy (Lesotho) — **Maneo Mapharisa**, Co-founder of Girls Coding Academy (Lesotho)

Giving young women and girls access to opportunities and stimulating careers in the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), is the mission of Girls Coding Academy. By doing so, the organisation’s 7 co-founders are making a tangible and lasting contribution to the reduction of the gender gap in Lesotho.

Mbali Masike, a young South African wine brand builder creating highly personal, story driven wines

September 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Mbali Masike, founder of ngiyiMbali Brands (South Africa) — **Mbali Masike**, founder of ngiyiMbali Brands (South Africa)

Behind every great wine is a great story, and that is certainly the case with the exciting South African wines being created by ngiyiMbali Brands. Founder Mbali Masike brings her own personality and taste profiles into each individual wine she creates, sharing stories and creating memories for her customers.

Mellisa Mazingi, a global brand builder revolutionizing the world view of traditional Swaziland handicrafts

September 1, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Mellisa Mazingi, Managing Director of Gone Rural Swaziland — **Mellisa Mazingi**, Managing Director of Gone Rural Swaziland

Africa has a long tradition of producing handcrafted goods that are lovingly produced by each country’s rural communities. But for one company, Gone Rural in eSwatini, headed by entrepreneur Mellisa Mazingi, the mission is to create world class, handcrafted products that the world can fall in love with.

Abai Schulze, founder of a new generation artisan enterprise taking Ethiopia's luxury leather craft heritage to the world

September 1, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Abai Schulze, founder of ZAAF (Ethiopia) — **Abai Schulze**, founder of ZAAF (Ethiopia)

The world’s fashion conscious buyers are increasingly interested in knowing where the luxury goods they purchase are made, and by whom. For entrepreneur Abai Schulze, founder of growing brand ZAAF, her company’s strong backstory and ethos is resonating with these buyers, who are rapidly becoming fans and brand ambassadors with each purchase they make.

Louise Bijleveld, an entrepreneur in Cote d’Ivoire building a clean technology business converting waste to energy

August 26, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Louise Bijleveld, co-founder of LONO (Cote d’Ivoire)

Africa’s need to find innovative and sustainable solutions to waste management and energy generation is growing, and for Louise Bijleveld, co-founder of LONO, that challenge provided the inspiration for a game-changing business.

Shirley Hayes, a self-starting South African entrepreneur redefining a new era of copper mining in the country

August 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Shirley Hayes, founder of SHiP Copper Company (South Africa) — **Shirley Hayes**, founder of SHiP Copper Company (South Africa)

The mining sector is one of the toughest in which to build a business from scratch, and perhaps not an obvious choice for many. But for South African entrepreneur, Shirley Hayes, it is a sector in which she is making her mark with her SHiP Copper Company.

Mishingo Aaron, an entrepreneur with a passion for harnessing the power of Botswana’s natural ingredients in a new beauty range

August 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Mishingo Aaron, founder of Naga Earth (Botswana) — **Mishingo Aaron**, founder of Naga Earth (Botswana)

There is a huge trend in the global beauty, bath and body products industry to get back to nature to source the finest ingredients and essential oils, and Botswana has a wealth of these ingredients. For entrepreneur Mishingo Aaron, founder of Naga Earth, the abundance of nature’s healing and restorative ingredients was the inspiration for the launch of her new business.

Christine Wanjiru, a Kenyan entrepreneur addressing the challenge of finding home-grown organic cosmetics brands in the country

August 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Christine Wanjiru, founder of Ayari Ani Cosmetics (Kenya) — **Christine Wanjiru**, founder of Ayari Ani Cosmetics (Kenya)

They say in business that if you find a pain-point in the marketplace and one that is not being adequately serviced, then you have the basis of a business opportunity. For entrepreneur Christine Wanjiru, founder of Ayari Ani Cosmetics in Kenya, that pain-point came in the form of not being able to find quality, hand-made, organic cosmetics to alleviate certain skin conditions and needs.

Adele Dejak, a Kenya based entrepreneur building a global luxury accessory brand that celebrates the true African experience

August 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Adele Dejak, founder of Adele Dejak (Kenya) — **Adele Dejak**, founder of Adele Dejak (Kenya)

In the highly competitive world of international jewellery design, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. But this is certainly not the case for Kenyan jewellery and accessory design entrepreneur, Adele Dejak, founder of the striking global luxury brand that carries her name.

Dr Levashni Naidoo, a passionate dermatologist on a mission to help her clients achieve great skin

August 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dr Levashni Naidoo, founder of The Dermatology Room (South Africa) — **Dr Levashni Naidoo**, founder of The Dermatology Room (South Africa)

For many people, dealing with challenging skin conditions can be confidence sapping and daunting. But for Dr Levashni Naidoo (or Dr Lev as she is fondly known) and her dedicated team at The Dermatology Room in South Africa, their inspiration is provide effective and life enhancing solutions.

Mkamboi Mwakale, a Kenyan entrepreneur harnessing the power of Moringa to create beautiful natural hair products

July 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Mkamboi Mwakale, founder of Saru Organics (Kenya) — **Mkamboi Mwakale**, founder of Saru Organics (Kenya)

The world is waking up to the natural benefits of Moringa, and for Mkamboi Mwakale, founder of Saru Organics, it was the inspiration for the launch of a new passion-driven business. Today, the business is not only winning legions of consumers, but it is also making a big difference to the lives of those growing this wonderful plant.

Evangelia Kalaitzi, a South African entrepreneur creating beautiful, animal friendly handbags with a conscience

July 27, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Evangelia Kalaitzi, founder of HealthyWise & Evangelia Nina K Brand (South Africa)

The world is becoming increasingly aware of sustainability and animal rights issues, particularly when it comes to the fashion industry. And, one South African entrepreneur, Evangelia Kalaitzi, founder of HealthyWise and the inspiration behind the Evangelia Nina K accessory brand, is creating beautiful, sustainable products that makes it easy for consumers to go ‘green’.

Chita Mumba Zulu, an entrepreneur creating beautiful, affordable engagement and wedding rings for Zambian couples

July 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Chita Mumba Zulu, founder of Eternal Jewellery Zambia — **Chita Mumba Zulu**, founder of Eternal Jewellery Zambia

Successful businesses understand that finding a gap in the market is key, and for entrepreneur Chita Mumba Zulu and her team at Eternal Jewellery Zambia, that gap was in the wedding and engagement ring market. Today, the business is making a name for itself by supplying quality, affordable and beautiful jewellery for couples who are planning their wedding celebrations.

Zeinab Abdallah, a Mozambican entrepreneur making world-class beauty therapy treatments more accessible

July 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Zeinab Abdallah, founder of Qimari Estética (Mozambique) — **Zeinab Abdallah**, founder of Qimari Estética (Mozambique)

Everyone wants to look and feel good, and also to boost their confidence, and in Mozambique, one woman entrepreneur is on a mission to help her clients achieve all of these goals. Zeinab Abdallah, founder of Qimari Estética, is creating a world-class service in a relaxing environment in the heart of Maputo, providing the opportunity for clients to find those precious Zen moments.

Nathalie Gambah Kpante, a passionate entrepreneur helping to build a high impact cacao value chain in Togo

July 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Nathalie Gambah Kpante, co-founder of ChocoTogo (Togo) — **Nathalie Gambah Kpante**, co-founder of ChocoTogo (Togo)

In Togo, where 100% of the cacao production has historically been exported, one company is looking to change that narrative and bring new economic hope to the country. ChocoTogo, an inspirational company led by entrepreneur Nathalie Gambah Kpante, is proving that a bean to bar chocolate producing philosophy can bring economic hope and prosperity to a country.

Kimberly & Priscilla Addison, two sisters pioneering bean to bar chocolate production in Ghana

July 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Kimberly and Priscilla Addison, co-founders of '57 Chocolate (Ghana) — **Kimberly and Priscilla Addison**, co-founders of '57 Chocolate (Ghana)

On a mission to show the world that quality chocolate can be produced in Ghana where some of the finest cacao beans grow, sisters Kimberly and Priscilla Addison created ’57 Chocolate. This growing business and brand is inspiring not only a generation of aspirant future chocolatiers in the country, but also the tastebuds of the world’s chocolate lovers.

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