Bethlehem Tilahun
- MJKG
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
Iconic. A perfect summation of an innovative entrepreneur from Zenabwork in Addis-Ababa Ethiopia, who leveraged on the artisan skills of her small community to build Africa's fastest growing footwear brand. soleRebels was created with a passion for creating eco-friendly footwear and helping people. This passion became a movement to mobilise her neighbours financially and maximise their skills. The brains behind this movement is Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu. Thanks to her vision, soleRebels has not only become a global brand but also a significant source of employment and empowerment for the local community.
Just a year after her graduation from Unity University, Bethelem began to source funding for her then-new company, soleRebels. Despite not being wealthy, she could pull resources from her family and friends to found the company. Interestingly, soleRebels is a creative reinterpretation of the Selate and Barabasso recycled-tyre shoes that gained fame for being worn by Ethiopian fighters against Western colonisation [1]. What an inspiring story behind just the name of the brand alone! Years later, Bethelem's hard work and dedication have been recognized with multiple accolades, such as being part of the World Economic Forum's list of Young Global Leaders [2]. Her achievements are a source of pride for her community and the entire African business landscape.
Bethlehem saw an opportunity to empower her people sustainably while promoting the cultural heritage of Ethiopiasustainably and has led soleRebels to be the first footwear brand to emerge from a developing country [3].
[1] - Henry Nzekwe (2020’. The Untold Story behind the Lucrative Footwear Brand Nicknamed the “Nike of Africa”. Accessed 23rd February, 2024. Link: https://weetracker.com/2020/04/13/solerebels-ethiopia-bethlehem-alemu/.
[2] - Africa.com (2019). 10 Top Female Business Leaders. Accessed 13th February, 2024. Link: https://www.africa.com/top-african-female-business-leaders/
[3] - soleRebels (2022). Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, soleRebels Founder. Accessed 23rd February, 2024. Link: https://www.solerebels.com/pages/bethlehem-tilahun-alemu?srsltid=Af
~Nwadinma Amuchaezi, Assistant Editor 24/25 Committee
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