Mozambique's Bongani Cigars: Crafting premium African cigars for the global market - Video
In a small, neon-lit factory in Maputo, a dedicated team of workers is hand-rolling premium cigars intended for the international market, undeterred by the strong aroma of tobacco that fills the air.
At wooden benches, men and women meticulously stack dry yet soft tobacco leaves, reminiscent of velvety leather. A large wrapper leaf from Cameroon, known for its delicate finish, is carefully torn in half and rolled around the cigar, completing the process.
"Not many people know about African cigars, especially those produced in Mozambique," Eugenia Mauaie, a worker at Bongani Cigars told AFP.
At 38, she has been with the company since its inception eight years ago. While most of the tobacco is sourced from Mozambique, some products also feature tobacco from the Dominican Republic, a renowned supplier for cigar enthusiasts.
Anthony Padilla Perez, who oversees the workshop, hails from a family of tobacco producers in the Caribbean. "Each leaf has a purpose: its burning quality, strength, and aroma," he explained.
After rolling the tobacco and applying the wrapper, workers cut each end to the desired size and place the cigars in moulds for at least 24 hours to achieve the perfect shape. The final touch involves rounding the tip using small pieces of tobacco held together with a drop of vegetable gum.
He believes that African cigars "surprise consumers" and spark curiosity about the brand, which means "be grateful" in Zulu.
The company's founder, Kamal Moukheiber, was inspired during a casual night out in a Maputo café. "I saw people smoking cigars and thought: why are there no African cigars?" he recalled with a chuckle.
Moukheiber, a 55-year-old Lebanese who previously worked in finance in London, recognised that while raw materials are often produced in Africa and then shipped abroad for rebranding—like coffee or chocolate—the continent was missing out on the benefits of local production.
After conducting thorough research, Moukheiber launched Bongani Cigars in 2016, selling his first products in a local shop. Now employing a dozen people, the factory produces between 10,000 and 12,000 cigars monthly.
About a third of the output is sold within Africa, primarily in Mozambique and South Africa, while another third reaches the United States and the final third is distributed in Europe, where they have gained popularity among black consumers.
Priced at $13 each, Moukheiber emphasises the importance of quality: "Each model has to be perfectly crafted, otherwise you don't have a business." He actively travels the world to promote his brand in an increasingly competitive market, championing the emergence of African cigars on the global stage.
