Special Sauce with Ed Levine Special Sauce Reheat: Hamissi Mamba and Baobab Fare
Dec 26, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Hamisi Mamba, a Burundian chef and owner of Baobab Fare in Detroit, shares his inspiring immigrant journey. He discusses his challenges after leaving Burundi, including adjusting to life in a new country and the harsh realities of refugee living. Mamba delves into the importance of community and food, recounting how his family connected farmers to buyers. He also reflects on what true wealth means, emphasizing generosity over materialism, and the impact of their ventures like Waka by Baobab and Soko on preserving East African culture.
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From Refugees To Three Food Businesses
- Hamisi Mamba and his wife Nadia fled Burundi and built three businesses in Detroit: Baobab Fare, Waka by Baobab, and Soko.
- They sell East African sauces, coffee, juice, chocolate and run a food truck and retail line that celebrate their heritage.
Communal Tables And A Mother Who Fed A Village
- Hamisi remembers communal meals in Burundi where families fed the whole neighborhood and celebrated food despite scarcity.
- His mother started a backyard restaurant, teaching respect and discipline around mealtime.
Happiness Beyond Economic Wealth
- Hamisi observed that Burundi's poverty didn't equate to unhappiness because strong community and generosity produced contentment.
- He realized wealth isn't just economic but found in the ability to give and share love and support.