Name: Mamadee Konneh, Sheik Bongay & Chemo Konneh (from left to right)
Business name: Mamadee Konneh United Blacksmith Shop
Responding to the need for agricultural development in Liberia and the large number of war-affected Liberian youth, Mamadee Konneh and his brother Chemo began taking on apprentices and passing on their combined 90 years of blacksmithing experience by teaching them to produce agricultural implements and appropriate technologies products. Along with their business partner Sheik Bongay, they produce an impressive line of products, including their most famous product, the Freedom Mill palm nut grinder, which sells for around $600. The three sell their products through a network of retailers in the Liberian counties as well as Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea.
“We make mostly agricultural tools, any one thing you can think of,” says Sheik Bongay. “Cutlasses, hoes, buckets, rice mills, the Freedom Mill, cassava graters and many many more, too many to name.”
The business’ apprentices either become employees after completing their training, or go on to open their own blacksmith shops.
Business location: Ganta Highway, before the One Plus One intersection, Gbarnga
Number of employees: 3 owners plus 5 employees and currently 3 apprentices
When established: 2003
Startup capital: $300 USD
Opportunity for growth: “We have the plans in action to build a factory with a welding shop, blacksmith shop, office and showroom.”
Contact: Sheik Bongay +231 (0) 6773126
Mamadee Konneh +231 (0) 6201224
freedommillliberia@gmail.com
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