70: As a refugee, Mamba Hamissi came with nothing to the US, launches an East African restaurant

Immigrant Entrepreneurs

May 29 2021 • 47 mins

Immigrant Entrepreneur: Mamba Hamissi

Mamba Hamissi is originally from Burundi, East Africa. His wife was an activist and her life was threatened. Many times people were either killed or put into jail if they went against the government. We're in 2021, and there is still civil war happening in East Africa.

They decided to flee the country and applied for refugee status with any country that will take them. America was the first one to give them refugee visa, but his wife was the only one that was accepted. They decided to get separated and Mamba knew that he will one day join his wife. What he didn't know was that he was going to miss his twins birth.

His pregnant wife left Africa and was living a shelter and had no idea when she was going to see her husband again.

Mamba missed his twins birth, and only came to the US when they were 2 years old. He came not speaking any English at 35 years old. Mamba and his wife launched an East African restaurant Baobab Fare without having any knowledge or experience in business.

Their journey to immigration and entrepreneurship is quite remarkable.

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