Tisya Mukuna, a finalist in the 2024 Africa Business Heroes (ABH) competition, is reshaping the coffee landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with her determination to revive coffee cultivation in Kinshasa.
Once a major coffee producer in the 1980s, Congo generated 120,000 tons annually, but years of political and economic instability caused a sharp decline in production. Mukuna is reversing this trend, defying the odds of Kinshasa’s hot and flat climate, a location previously thought unsuitable for coffee. She has successfully grown the first coffee tree in the city—an achievement that many believed impossible.
Through her company, Mukuna grows, packages, and brands coffee, overseeing the entire process from farm to cup. Her efforts have not only revitalized Congo’s coffee industry but also created over 200 jobs, contributing to local economic growth. Her coffee products are now sold to luxury hotels and restaurants both locally and internationally.
Mukuna has also launched innovative coffee carts, bringing premium coffee to the streets of Kinshasa and giving locals access to high-quality brews.
Her work has garnered widespread recognition, and as a top finalist at ABH, Mukuna’s story of perseverance and innovation is inspiring entrepreneurs across Africa. Beyond coffee, her business is helping to empower her community and drive economic development in the DRC.
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