-Meet Sierra Leone’s First Female Coffee Roaster
By Yusufu S. Bangura
Madam Tarawally & her staff pose for photo
As the saying goes, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.” One woman leading the charge in empowering women through agriculture is Elizabeth Hannah Tarawally, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coffee Couriers Freetown Ltd. Over the years, she has empowered over 1,000 female farmers across Sierra Leone, proving that women in the cash crop industry are no longer just harvesters but game-changers.
For decades, Sierra Leone has been known for its rich mineral resources—diamonds, gold, and iron ore have defined the nation’s economic landscape. However, in recent years, agriculture has gained prominence, particularly in cash crop farming, offering economic opportunities to rural communities and contributing to national development.
Traditionally, men have dominated this industry, but more women are now venturing into cash crop production, using it as a means to support their families, create jobs, and drive economic growth. Despite these strides, women in agriculture still face significant challenges, including limited infrastructure, poor road networks, and a lack of processing facilities, which hinder their ability to fully benefit from their labor.
A male staff processing the coffee
In an exclusive interview with Concord Times, Tarawally proudly described Coffee Couriers as the number-one coffee brand in Sierra Leone. “I am the first female coffee roaster in the country,” she declared. “I have been interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Cable News Network (CNN), and today, I lead a dedicated team committed to producing high-quality, locally roasted coffee.”
Tarawally’s coffee is different from mass-produced brands found in other coffee-growing regions such as Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire. Her product is 100% organic, rich in flavor, and grown without harmful chemicals. “Our Robusta coffee has a strong taste and an intense aroma. What makes it unique is not just the beans but also our roasting process, which enhances its flavor and quality,” she explained.
Her vision extends beyond producing high-quality coffee. She aims to take Sierra Leonean coffee global, expand production, open coffee shops nationwide, and create more employment opportunities for women.
Like many young women in Sierra Leone, coffee production was never on Tarawally’s radar. In 2014, at the age of 20, she had dreams of pursuing higher education, believing it was her only path to success. However, with her father deceased and her mother struggling to make ends meet, affording university fees became impossible.
Determined to survive, she ventured into business, selling coffee with a friend in offices across Freetown. The small enterprise kept them going until the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which shut down businesses and left them without an income.
Rather than giving up, Tarawally saw an opportunity. “I decided to start roasting homegrown Sierra Leonean coffee. I sent money to Kono to buy raw coffee beans and even designed my own roasting machine,” she recounted.
This decision, however, was met with resistance. Blacksmiths dismissed her idea, and it took months before someone finally agreed to build the machine. When she finally produced her first batch of coffee, supermarkets refused to stock it due to poor packaging.
Many would have given up, but Tarawally refused to be discouraged. She saved every penny, reinvested in better packaging, and slowly, the tide began to turn.
Today, Coffee Couriers is more than just a brand—it’s a movement. Tarawally employs eight permanent female staff in Freetown and partners with over 1,000 female farmers in Kenema and other districts, ensuring they receive fair prices for their coffee beans.
As Sierra Leone joins the rest of the world to celebrate International Women’s Day, Tarawally’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and female empowerment.
Despite her success, she acknowledges that funding remains a major challenge. While her passion and vision have started to pay off, expanding the business to the next level requires financial support—something that remains a stumbling block for many entrepreneurs.
A Message to Young Women
For many young women in Sierra Leone, Tarawally’s journey is an inspiration. Financial hardship, societal expectations, and limited opportunities continue to hold many back. However, her story proves that with hard work, determination, and faith, anything is possible.
“There will always be people who doubt you. Some will even try to bring you down. But if you stay focused, work hard, and trust in God, the sky will not be your limit,” she said. “Start where you are and with what you have—because a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Through coffee, Tarawally is not only building a business but also transforming lives—one cup at a time.
