Hi! Welcome to the Kaiem blog!

Thank you for checking our store and blog out.

Now that you are here, I am sure you want to know more about what Kaiem is, what we offer, why we do what we do, and maybe even how to pronounce our name - it’s pronounced kye (like bye)-em. Easy once you know it. :)

First, let me introduce myself and Kaiem to you. My name is Elysia and I am the founder of Kaiem - an online platform that aims to showcase and distribute modern, innovative products from Africa. The store is meant to promote the excellence of African products to all. I am a first generation American, graduate of the University of Virginia, and a consultant/entrepreneur/baker/world traveller/sister/daughter/cousin/best friend/dancer partner - I wear many hats. My parents migrated separately to the US, from Ghana and the UK, in the 1970s to pursue a higher education. They met randomly on a street in Washington, DC, dated for many years, got married, had my sister, me, and my brother, and somehow found the time to start an imports business. That business was the foundation on which my business was born.

I started Kaiem because I wanted to continue the legacy of my parents, and grandmother, who started Aadji & Manten - our family’s African and British wholesale food business - in the early 90s. I wanted to share my heritage, showcase the products coming from my parent’s home country of Ghana, and make those products available to all via a modern, virtual platform. I left corporate America in 2019, after 6 long but important years, to pursue my business full time, and have the flexibility to spend more time with my loved ones.

All of the products and brands featured on Kaiem are personally selected by myself and my team. From food to home items, skincare & accessories, Kaiem aims to share the best of Africa’s artisans, business men and women, and creators with the rest of the world. If you know any African-owned brands that you feel would be a good fit for the platform, please feel free to make suggestions in the comments below.

It was great to introduce myself to you all in the FIRST Kaiem blog post. I hope this gives you more insight into who I am and why I do what I do.

Thank you always for your support of my business! Stay tuned for more content!

xx
Elysia