Qwezi: The artsy and hip space that beat Covid blues

Qwezi bar and bistro in Kigali.

The artsy bar and Bistro, Qwezi, in Kigali. The walls are all adorned with murals and paintings. PHOTO | ANDREW I. KAZIBWE | NMG

The Covid-19 pandemic killed many small businesses but also gave rise to others by those innovative and brave enough. Maurice Shyaka, 26, is one of the latter, who chose entrepreneurship in the middle of one of the world’s toughest economic times.

And his idea was nothing extraordinary. He opted to open a bar, Qwezi Bar and Bistro in Remera, at the end of 2020. “I was thinking of a food kiosk, a small coffee shop but definitely a space to do with food and drinks,” he explains.