Kofi Afrika, founded by Mpumelelo Zulu and Lawrence Murothela, opened as a premium coffee bar on Soweto’s historic Vilakazi Street, filling a gap in a township with plenty of restaurants but few traditional coffee shops.
Real coffee expertise, not a side hustle
Zulu trained as a barista and store manager at Starbucks in the UK before returning to South Africa, while Murothela brought over 15 years in the coffee service industry. The pair tasted more than 60 beverages from different coffee shops before settling on their Ethiopian and Tanzanian bean pairing.
Tapping an underserved market
Soweto’s consumer spending power runs into billions of rand a year, yet traditional coffee shops remained rare when Kofi Afrika opened. Locating inside The Box Shop, a local retail and incubator hub, gave the business early foot traffic and a built-in entrepreneurial community.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kofi Afrika located?
On Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto, inside The Box Shop retail hub.
What makes Kofi Afrika different from other coffee shops?
Founder-level barista expertise, sourced Ethiopian and Tanzanian beans, and a deliberate focus on an underserved township coffee market.
Is South Africa’s coffee shop industry growing?
Yes, Statistics South Africa has reported consistent year-on-year growth in restaurant and coffee shop revenue.
What is The Box Shop?
A Soweto retail and incubator hub on Vilakazi Street that houses several local entrepreneurs’ businesses.
Did the founders have prior coffee industry experience?
Yes, one trained at Starbucks in the UK and the other has over 15 years in coffee service, including running a small business in Venda.
Further reading: Building a creative agency on purpose and passion
Originally published in 2016. Updated September 2026.
