If you have tasted coffee from Rwanda Hingakawa, that means your coffee was planted, tendered, picked, harvested, processed, sun-dried, sorted, hulled, analyzed and bagged by a woman.
If you have tasted coffee from Rwanda Hingakawa, that means your coffee was planted, tendered, picked, harvested, processed, sun-dried, sorted, hulled, analyzed and bagged by a woman.
I still can’t believe that this association is made entirely of women in a historically male dominated country. Because of that I knew I had to have HER – the female farmer – at the forefront of my art.
The basket represents the idea that Rwandan women are a strong, tightly woven unit, bringing stability to their economy and keeping their families bound together. Her dress mimics the valley and mountain behind her as a nod to her new craft; by harvesting nature in the form of coffee beans, she is rebuilding her nation literally from the ground up. I also designed the typography for “Rwanda”. I wanted this card to feel vibrant and powerful - just like her.
Farmer’s Story
A group of farmers known as Hingakawa—all of whom are women—are turning out coffees of rare elegance. After bearing witness to one of Rwanda’s darkest episodes, the farmers of Hingakawa found a path forward through coffee—one that embraces reconciliation, revitalization and improved livelihoods. Hingakawa, a mantra that translates to “Let’s grow coffee,” is a product of patience, care and love.