The company, Le Afrika, which is a family-owned beauty brand based in Botswana and spearheaded by Lisa Kasale as its managing director, has already made a name for itself in the beauty space. Since its inception in 2019, it has made significant strides in the beauty industry, particularly in the organic skincare sector.
Under Kasale’s leadership, Le Afrika even obtained certifications from the Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BOMRA) and the Ghana Standard Authorities for its organic products. Additionally, the company holds a Pride Mark Certificate from the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) for packaging, promotions, and branding materials.
“Le Afrika’s goal is to hope to see a world of pure and natural personal care products become mainstream so that chemical cosmetics will no longer be a part of anyone’s daily routine,” she explained in an interview. According to Kasale, Le Afrika which in French means “An African,” was inspired by celebrating the beauty and rich culture of Africa.
She said their belief is that the name captures the essence of what it means to be an African by appreciating the love for all-natural products, which nature has richly endowed the continent with and sharing them with the rest of the world. “We are passionate about what we do, committed to serving you only the freshest quality of sustainably and ethically sourced products which are not only healthy for the environment but also your skin,” Kasale added.
The company’s product range includes organic shea butter, shea butter soap, shea turmeric soap, shea moringa soap, liquid black soap, organic lip balm and African black soap, sourced from Northern Ghana and packaged in Botswana. The products are 100% vegan, organic, additives-free, cruelty-free, chemical-free, and eco-friendly, which is the company’s goal to promote the use of pure and natural personal care products, eliminating the need for chemical cosmetics in daily routines. “We grew up inspired by green living. My mother used to bring us natural oils, scrubs, perfumes and other cosmetic products from all over the world.
“We grew up on a farm so she would plant organic plants such as vegetables and fruits. We ate fresh, home-grown and organic foods. The world has gone green,” she said of what inspired them. Kasale further said they were inspired to get these particular products because their health benefits are enormous.
According to Kasale, they import their materials from Northern Ghana, which come raw adding that their processing and the production include using a double boiler so that their nutrients are retained. Additionally, she explained that they steam and boil the butter at a certain temperature. In 2021, Le Afrika launched an online store with the aim of expanding customer base both locally and globally.
Kasale emphasises the importance of providing a safe and hassle-free online shopping experience for customers, allowing them to browse and purchase their organic products with ease. In addition to the online store, the company’s products are also available at select retail stores and pharmacies nationwide like Health Alternatives, Phakalane Pharmacy, Hilton Garden Inn, and Botswana Craft amongst others. Kasale emphasises the therapeutic properties of the products, highlighting their ability to restore the skin’s natural oils and maintain hydration.
