Learning at her mother’s elbow was a given for Marité growing up, but what she did not expect was to fall wholly in love with the craft of hair braiding and styling. Today, together with Nicole, Marité leads instruction of the education program at the Salon where members of the Foundation’s partners learn from. 

Growing up in Kampala, Marité broke with tradition expected from a young school girl by being a full time student and part-time apprentice to her mother’s formidable empire. Training in both business and creative innovation, Martié weaved styles and supplies from across Africa and the diaspora, blending them with traditional patterns to maintain Tshani Salon’s place as the most innovative braiding salon in Kampala. 

Sharing their rigorous, time-honed skillset with other women remains the foundation’s top priority in order to contribute to economic empowerment of women, no matter their background, in the country and region