Tigray Coffee Launch at Fasaha Cafe: Coffee, Art, and Community in Kaduna

Tigray Coffee Launch at Fasaha Cafe: Coffee, Art, and Community in Kaduna

Just a clip from the entire event.

On Saturday, I was in Kaduna. In the heart of the city, where the sun kissed the bustling streets with a warm glow, it was lovely. I used a POS service, and the man asked me to leave the charges. I smiled, and he said, “Welcome to Kaduna.” I was like, “Wow, it’s been a while.” That’s all I said. I thanked him and moved on.

Since it’s been years since I visited Kaduna, I took a bike and used Google Maps to direct him. He was an older man, and his name was Hussaini. He gladly showed me the city after I told him it’s been a while. He told me he has been living in Nagogo since 1993. “Wow,” I said again. He stopped to show me the locations of some landmarks, which were like the peak of the town in those days. I was just smiling and learning from him. It was a fun ride.

Fasaha Cafe stood as a haven for those seeking a blend of coffee, art, books, and the palpable pulse of community expression. This particular Saturday, however, held a unique charm as the cafe played host to the Tigray coffee launch—a gathering that unfolded as a tapestry of experiences, woven with the threads of rich aromas, vibrant artworks, and the infectious laughter of the lovely souls that filled the space.
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As I stepped into Fasaha Cafe with Richard Ali and Charles Effiong, I smiled when I saw the painting of a lady with an hourglass as her head. Later, the inviting aroma of freshly brewed Tigray coffee enveloped me. I thought about the paint, the hourglass, and the others we went to see after Habiba Malumfashi, our host, opened up the tour. Her eyes and smile are like that hourglass in the painting. They drown me in meaning

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Fun. Games. Connections and a chat with the CEO of Tigray Coffee, Richard Ali, and then the air was thick with the promise of a sensory journey, one where each sip would be an outlet to the highlands of great Coffee. The artistic space came alive, the walls adorned with paintings and photographs, each telling a story of its own. And there were lots of finger foods.

The audience was a diverse mosaic of personalities, all drawn together by a shared love for coffee and an appreciation for the arts. In one corner, a group engaged in enthusiastic conversation, their laughter creating a tune that resonated with the clinking of coffee cups. 

The barista, deft in the art of brewing, moved gracefully behind the counter, orchestrating the creation of caffeinated masterpieces. When I asked for a cup, it was all finished. People aren’t joking with the coffee, ooo.

Amidst the lively chatter, my attention was drawn to two friends engaged in an earnest discussion about the uniqueness of Tigray coffee. The woman, with a twinkle in her eye, remarked, “It’s like a journey through. In every drop…” I was listening. She glanced at her friend and smiled.

Before then, turning my gaze to the artworks on the walls, I found myself captivated by the eclectic mix of visual narratives. A striking piece, bathed in warm hues, depicted the intricate process of life and was at the same time like the cultivation of coffee—the hands that carefully tended to the coffee plants, the vibrant landscapes that cradled the precious beans, and the people drinking it. It is all a tour.

Nearby, the photographer, Iklima, ran several clicks, the videographer smiled, and it was wonderful seeing everyone smiling. Happiness is contagious, Tigray coffee brings lots of it.

You know, the ambience was not just about the visuals; it was like it resonated with the melodic strains of a local artist’s acoustic guitar while his or her fingers danced gracefully over the strings and weaving a musical tapestry that echoed the soul of the event.

I smiled, and then there was a final click. “Everybody, say Tigray Coffee.” She clicked.

I immersed myself in the unfolding scenes; the cafe became a living canvas where every sip of Tigray coffee and every stroke of art, food, and books blended seamlessly with the collective heartbeat of the community. Fasaha Cafe had transcended its role as a mere space; it had become a living, breathing testament to the symbiosis of coffee, art, and the shared expressions of a community brought together by the simple joys of life.

I’ll stop here now. Follow us on Social media, leave a review and drink more Tigray Coffee.