Juhudi, plain and simple.
Juhudi means "encouraging" or "working hard" in Swahili. It's no surprise, then, that Julius Mburu--a self-made craftsman and Zidisha borrower--chose this word for a venture he launched in 1995....
View ArticleThe pharmaceutical star of Dakar
Combé Thiaw stocks pharmaceutical supplies and serves a number of hospitals around Senegal’s capital. She built on her professional training as a pharmacist when she decided, “I could follow others’...
View ArticleBack on the horse
When summertime rolls around in Dakar, Aïda Sow is a good name to know. To make a living, she sells a medley of Senegalese staples including smoked fish, palm oil, and bissap—a sugary, iced infusion...
View ArticleBusiness in Kenya: the basics
Greetings from Nairobi! While I’m officially here for research, what better opportunity to engage with Zidisha on the ground? East Africa is home to countless Zidisha entrepreneurs and a handful of...
View ArticleSuits for sale!
Meet Ann Wangui, a shopkeeper from the Rift Valley city of Nakuru, Kenya. Her second-hand suit business enjoys healthy margins thanks to low operating costs and high demand. From her kiosk at the...
View ArticlePaying it forward
How would you respond if someone asked you, “What does it mean to be poor?” You might begin listing components that constitute a decent standard of living: nutrition; stable housing; access to...
View ArticleFrom one to another
For Kenyan entrepreneurs Vitalis Opondo and Veronicah Munga, talent is a gift to be shared, not an asset to be hoarded. The latter passes along her knack for artisanal bracelets in rural Rironi, while...
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