When Jean Christian Kabisa quit a juicy office job to start painting his peers were shocked. They wondered how he could leave a ‘comfortable’ job for paint and dirt.

Kabisa paid no heed and followed his heart and what he says is his passion, painting and ‘creating things’.

"I had held big positions in both government agencies and private sector, but I wasn’t happy so I quit to devote more time to painting. Besides, I always felt that my calling was in the business world,” he says.

Because he believes that no challenge is too hard to face, he was confident he would make it as an entrepreneur and painter.

Kabisa says by 2011 he had opened his studio under the brand name, Hebron Art Design. The firm located in Gikondo, Nyarugenge District, was later to be renamed Kabisa Interior Design after he integrated painting and furniture design and making.

Kabisa says through his venture, he hopes to inspire creativity and quality production, attributes he believes will help reduce furniture imports in favour of locally-made furniture.

"The firm emphasises a high level of quality and promotes creativity among workers, essential attributes for any business to survive and become competitive,” he adds a former communications officer.

Because the 29-year-old promotes environment-friendly production and nature conservation, many of his paintings feature animals.

Starting up

The start is always hard for many an aspiring entrepreneur, a reason most business ideas die and never see the light of day, particularly due to lack of start-up capital. Besides, starting a business requires determination and focus for one to achieve their dream.

Kabisa says he had saved some money that he used to kick-start the project.

"I started with Rwf1 million, most of which I used to buy materials, like ply wood and paints. I also paid rent and workers’ salaries for the first month of operation,” he says.

He adds that though the first three to five months were challenging as the business sought customers, he persevered through thin and thick. Presently, his company is one of the top interior design firms in Kigali, attracting furniture and art lovers from within and outside the country.

He says he earns about Rwf3 million during a good week. His paintings go $450 (about Rwf378,000) each, but some are at $150, while an office table cost Rwf250,000 each, among others.

The Made-in-Rwanda challenge

He says Rwanda has not performed well in promoting businesses and homegrown solutions that would help make local entrepreneurs more competitive and also enable the country to reduce its growing import bill.

Kabisa says there is a need to break the old mindset that imported products are of better quality compared to those made locally. He argues that this blind belief has seen the country import tonnes of goods that are of low quality compared to Made-in-Rwanda products, which has in a way made the country a dumping ground.

"A biblical adage that a prophet is never accepted in his land should not apply to business and Rwandans must start to love the works of fellow countrymen and women,” he says.

Kabisa says few Rwandans buy art pieces and furniture whenever he exhibits his works, leaving foreigners to take the day as the main buyers.

He says it is sad that big businesses prefer shipping in tables, wardrobes and carpets from overseas instead of buying those items locally and supporting home producers.

"We have backcloth and skins that can be used as carpets, but their demand is low compared to orders we get from abroad,” he adds.

He says more needs to be done to change the mindset of Rwandans about locally-made products.

He also calls for a policy that compels government agencies to buy a certain percentage of local products in all their yearly procurement plans.

"This way, local producers will widen their market share and help the country bolster its foreign exchange reverse position,” he says.Achievements

Kabisa says he has learnt entrepreneurial and managerial skills that are critical for any business to survive.

He has also held many exhibitions in Kigali and elsewhere. He says in 2012 he showcased ‘folk paintings’ at Michael dens Hotel in Kigali, with baskets, calabashes, and paints of Rwandan girls churning milk.

He recently held an exhibition called ‘animal perspective’ at Rubangura Luxury Apartments, and sold most of the animal paintings he had brought.

Supporting community 

Kabisa says he employs 14 workers and takes on trainees from the Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions. This internship, Kabisa says, is essential to boost, promote and strengthen vocational training in Rwanda.