After losing both parents at a young age, the founder of Taza Behaylu Eskindir began his journey in Ethiopia’s leather industry as a trainee.
Today, he leads one of the country’s most promising leather goods companies built not just on business goals, but on a deeper purpose.
Taza means shelter, a word that holds personal meaning for the founder and now defines his company’s mission.
Taza isn’t just making leather school bags. It’s creating economic opportunity, building local pride, and challenging the idea that Africa can’t manufacture at scale.
In a country with the largest livestock population in Africa and a youth population that makes up over 70% of its people, the potential is massive. But Ethiopia still spends its foreign currency on importing low-quality school bags while unemployment remains high, especially among young people and women.
Taza was born to change that.
“We produce leather school bags not just as products, but as symbols of transformation and self-belief.”
Behaylu Eskindir, Founder, Taza
Each bag made by Taza tells a bigger story. It represents foreign currency saved by producing locally instead of relying on imports.
It reflects new jobs created for underprivileged youth and women who are often left out of formal employment.
It adds value within Ethiopia, turning raw hides into finished products rather than exporting them in their unprocessed form.
And most importantly, it helps rebuild trust and pride in goods that are made in Africa, by Africans.
The goal is clear to serve Ethiopian students and expand across the Horn of Africa and international markets.
But like many purpose-driven startups, Taza faces barriers, low visibility, limited access to capital, and a lack of public awareness.
That’s why Taza is calling on partners NGOs, policy makers, and investors who care about building jobs, industries, and pride in Africa.
The message the founder of Taza wants to convey is simple
Africa doesn’t need to dream of manufacturing, it needs to act on the opportunity already in its hands.
You can reach out to Behaylu Eskindir with the below contact info
Contact Info –
+251944126161
behaylue@gmail.com
