From resilience
to entrepreneurship.

In 2012, Bahati Bertin Matonde left the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was fleeing the war.

Like millions of other Congolese, he didn't choose to leave. But he chose what he would build next.

Once in Uganda, Bertin faces many challenges — language barrier, lack of stable income, search for housing. These hardships fuel a determination: to make a difference not only for himself, but also for other refugees.

In 2013, he founds Self-made Africans Ltd (SMA) — an organization dedicated to helping young refugees integrate and thrive in their new environment.

SMA initially focuses on producing films highlighting violence against women and insufficient hygiene in refugee camps. Cinema as a tool for social transformation.

Bertin is not just an entrepreneur. He is a filmmaker.

Films against violence against women. Documentaries on reforestation. Coverage of agricultural initiatives. Awareness-raising theatrical series.

In 2016, SMA produced several powerful documentaries and short films, some of which were recognized at film festivals. This work draws attention to the harsh realities lived by refugees and advocates for better living conditions and the respect of their rights.

In 2019, following threats and persecution targeting his family, Bertin's mother and his younger siblings also flee to Uganda. His mother is battling blood cancer, his young sister suffers from hydrocephalus and a brain tumour. Now surrounded by his loved ones, Bertin becomes the pillar of a family searching for care and peace.

A few months later, COVID-19 brings the filmmaking activities to a halt. Humanitarian funding shrinks, hunger spreads through the Ugandan refugee camps.

Having never been a farmer before, Bertin begins to cultivate the land to feed his family. The initiative grows into a true agri-business project led by Self-made Africans with the support of Alight Ripple Effect. Over the years, he trains more than 5,000 participants in agricultural and entrepreneurial techniques.

But his mother's and sister's health continue to deteriorate. The specialized care they need is not available locally. Bertin then begins approaching several countries to apply for humanitarian resettlement for his family.

Canada accepts the family's case and welcomes them as permanent residents. In September 2024, Bertin sets down his bags in Montreal — with the hope of giving his mother and sister access to the medical care they need, and rebuilding a future in a safe environment.

He discovers a multicultural, welcoming city full of opportunities. Like many newcomers, he must adapt to a new culture, a new system, a new economic reality. His priority remains his mother's health, supported by the Canadian medical system for several months.

Despite every effort by the medical teams, his mother passes away in Montreal on December 25, 2025. A profound loss — and the resolve to turn this ordeal into something positive.

One of the most defining moments comes during his mother's hospitalization. One morning, after a night at her bedside, Bertin heads to work. He's simply looking for a cup of coffee to stay awake. A friend and colleague then calls to check in on him. Hearing that he's searching for coffee to get through the day, his friend says a sentence he will never forget:

The name Tabar traces its origin to the mountains of Katale, in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo — a region renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and vast coffee plantations stretching as far as the eye can see.

For the people who live there, these mountains are much more than a place. They are associated with peace, comfort, and gentleness — somewhere one goes to recharge, take in nature, and find a sense of calm away from daily hardship.

In his childhood, whenever someone wanted to go there, they would simply say: « hey partons au Tabar! » Tabar — the place of gentleness — was a symbol of hope and serenity. From its heights, one contemplates kilometres of coffee farms that shape the richness of this region.

When the time came to create the brand, the name imposed itself naturally. Every cup of Tabar Café carries that same feeling — a moment of pause, reflection and well-being, while staying connected to the story, the producers and the communities that make this coffee possible.

Tabar is not just a name. It is an emotion, a memory, and an invitation to savour life with serenity.

Tabar Café is not an isolated project. It is the continuation of a journey of more than twelve years: helping communities build themselves up, opening bridges between cultures, and proving that a business can generate both economic value and lasting social impact.

Every bag of Tabar Café contributes to this vision.