It’s a quiet Sunday evening here in Kigali, Rwanda. Offices are closed, but the owner of the business I am visiting has had a busy day. The plan was to see him earlier. That didn’t happen because he couldn’t find a slot for me until his latest customer left.
I am here to talk to Abraham Konga, founder of Abraham Konga Collections. Our interaction is likely to be short because more shoppers are on their way. Although it’s getting late, my host is not done selling stuff yet.
I have been here before. Not once, not twice. Several times. When I am not writing, I guide and drive tourists around the country. As I do so, I frequent shops that attract travelers. Abraham’s Kimihurura outlet is one of them.
The last time I was here, the customers I had brought needed extra bags to pack purchased souvenirs. Even the XXL suitcase Abraham gave them wasn’t big enough to contain all the items. As his products are flying off the shelves, he puts in long hours to keep up with the demand.
What exactly does Abraham sell? What’s so special about his products? I will get back to you on this later. Meanwhile, let’s delve into his journey and find out how he got here.
After graduating with a degree in Information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Abraham returned home and landed a job right away. Two weeks later, he had come to a conclusion that employment wasn’t for him.
His resignation was followed by a trip to his hometown in the Southern Province. While trying to find his calling, he visited a cooperative of women who weave baskets for a living. A business idea, conceived during an encounter with the artisans, turned him into a vendor of baskets and other artifacts.
In the beginning, business was slow. Sometimes he would spend days without selling anything. When boredom kicked in, he started playing with wires — coiling them up to form objects of all shapes and sizes. The flexible nature of wires stimulates creativity.
A couple of decades down the line, his brand is gaining recognition globally. Before I walk out of the door, I spend a minute admiring a beautiful ring made from the debris of an old padlock. Creative minds will never stop amazing me.