Annette was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone to Sierra Leonean parents, but spent much of her life overseas. She graduated from law school in 2005 at the University of Kentucky College of Law. After her employment in the CCO role ended, Annette decided to follow her heart and heritage. She dreamed about House of Takura for at least 10 years before it came to be a reality.
House of Takura is a lifestyle brand focused on high-end and unique designs that tell a story of African traditions and Western influences with products manufactured from beginning to end on the continent of Africa. The brand has been featured by CNN Africa and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and other various other features including tv segments.
“I want to create opportunities for people to better themselves right where they are with pride and security in their home despite circumstances,” she says. “At House Of Takura, our bags are not just bags, but are meant to carry opportunities into the future of work in Africa which can only be done through empowering the youth.”
Annette desires for her brand to elevate her heritage; to challenge the narrative about where she comes from; to rewrite the narrative about what she can do. This is how her brand impacts the world. She identifies a problem and finds a solution based on what the people on the ground say they need. This brand is a product of the goodness and the kindness of strangers.
Through House of Takura, she believes in not only sustainable economic development in Africa but also empowering the future (the children).
