Restaurateur, Entrepreneur, Cape Town, South Africa
It takes courage to open and run a restaurant. Ms. Senait Mekonnen opened two, one in Tanzania and another in Cape Town, South Africa. Her love for Ethiopian roots and attention to detail are in the special touches of her three-storey restaurant in the center of Cape Town. Together with her gorgeous team, Senait presents all the glorious Ethiopian dishes served with consistent quality and beautiful presentation.
Albert Camus once said: “All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning. Great works are often born on a street corner or in a restaurant's revolving door.” It seems that every meticulous detail of the “Addis in Cape Ethiopian Restaurant” was deliberately brought together in just the perfect composition, harnessing creative energy and love. You immediately get a sense that Senait enjoys hosting (both foreigners and locals alike), and showcases Ethiopian pride with mouthwatering dishes, traditional drinks and if you’re lucky, a walk through the history behind the beautiful decor (all done over the Bunna Maflat coffee ceremony)
Five months after visiting Ms. Mekonnen in her lively restaurant I reached out in the midst of the 2020 global pandemic. I was concerned about the state of business, but in her calm and generous fashion Senait wrote:
“I can only say I am fine, as long as Addis in Cape (restaurant) team, family, friends and myself are healthy. For the rest of it, I am simply waiting to see where we are headed. The economy in South Africa is extremely bad especially in the hospitality and tourism sectors. You can say it has collapsed. It is so bad you can’t even feel sad; simply accept. I keep on going though, learning so much during this journey, blessed to be breathing. I have my health, energy and most importantly a peaceful state of mind. We are all on this journey together and I will find a way to cope and revive myself.”
1. Name.
Senait Mekonnen.
2. Where is your hometown?
Cape Town, South Africa.
3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? What does your average day look like?
I don’t really know how I should be labeled. It could be restaurateur, or entrepreneur. My day consists of doing anything and everything which is required for the running of a restaurant, following up to keep with our consistent quality and ensuring the well-being of my team. I am a dreamer and an implementer, always planning for growth.
4. What did you study in school?
I obtained a high school degree.
5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of. What was the breakthrough moment for you (in your personal life and/or career?) that set you on the current path in life?
It has been a long and beautiful journey. I am 63 now. I was born and grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I feel I am a lucky lady to live this long, keeping healthy and content. I didn’t get a chance to plan my life journey at a young age, at a time when most young people did.
My journey was outlined for me and I feel like I went through it as life came at me. Sometimes it felt more like like a dark jungle, and I walked through it, tying and untying the notes as needed. Moments of sadness and success made me grow more on a personal level.
I have always felt that I had a lot to offer and give of myself but somehow it just wasn’t happening. One day I sat and wondered about what my last day on the planet would look like. It felt like awakening, and I felt the pain. Then and there I decided to do something I liked. I knew I could create something to make people happy and make a difference. I understood that could be done in many ways, but what made sense for me was opening a restaurant. The journey has been a pleasure for me ever since. I opened two restaurants, Addis in Dar, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Addis in Cape Ethiopian Restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa are very special places for me.
I knew I could create something to make people happy and make a difference. I understood that could be done in many ways, but what made sense for me was opening a restaurant.
6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?
I felt at 20 as I do now: there is still a lot to do in life! I am still dreaming to reach more of me and understand more of myself and learn from others.
7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?
Yes, many times. Much of it happened when I was young and unprepared. I learned that all will pass, just had to give it time. One needs to have hope and trust in oneself and people.
8. Advice for other women?
Be open and pay extra attention to your well-being. You have to be well in order to be giving to others.
9. Knowing what we know now in a current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values"?
Women have got to get up and do something to bring about a better way of life. This realization has to be taught and experienced by women. Whatever positive change we might want to bring about isn’t going to happen unless women are participating fully. Especially in decision making at every level of their life.
Women in general have a tendency of looking at the overall picture and not focusing on individual circumstances. I believe in society we can use more of that kind of approach to better our social and personal situations.
10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?
I love travelling. I do fine wherever I go as long as I speak the local language. Fortunately there is the English language which gives me a pleasure to communicate with other nations. Even if it is my second language, it serves its purpose.
11. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?
I like walking and hiking around Cape Town. It keeps my mind fresh and body fit. It lifts me up.
12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?
Reach and connect with more people.
13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?
Fear of physical pain.
14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?
I would study philosophy. I would also dance, a lot.
15. What inspires you?
Mountains, nature, inner peace.
16. What are you hopeful about?
I am really not sure how, but I think the world politics need an overhaul. Maybe we are not equally progressing with technology as well. Countries have to work together toward fairness, on a world scale.
17. What are some ingredients to a good life?
Self-understanding.
18. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why?
Since my childhood, I always had a sense that even the worst times will pass.
I see goodness in others. I depend on that intuition.
I can take risks, as I believe that life is a journey that is worth experiencing fully.
19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?
Get to the bottom of your true feelings. Observe, love, grow and listen.
20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)
Am reading a book by the Ethiopian prime minster Abiy Ahmed called in Amharic መደመርMEDEMER. I am not a big reader but I do like to read books which makes me think.
21. Who is a WOW Woman in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, why you admire them?
My grand mother. She had 12 children. As a child I could feel her strength and energy, I just knew that she must have worked hard to be able to take care of her family. Even in her later years she never stopped taking care of others and carry that responsibility.
22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?