08/12/2026
When my cousin and I first started cooking chip butties on the street, (I’m not gonna lie), my head was spinning with all kinds of worries and overthinking.
One thought that was messing with me big time was the fear of being judged, especially by girls.
I kept picturing people walking by, whispering, "Look at him, frying potatoes on the roadside... he must be broke or got zero support back home."
I worried about the silly stigma, I worried people would mistake a humble street setup for a lack of ambition, and I wondered if I was making a fool of myself.
But then I had to take a deep breath and check my own reality.
I’m literally a business student at one of the top private universities in Addis Ababa! My family supports me, I’ve got a great setup, and I have every advantage someone my age could ask for. So why was I letting insecurity get in my head when I already have what others have?
As a business guy, my whole mindset is simple: see an opportunity, go after it, and put money in the pocket.
My cousin and I carried out our own market research, checked out Gambella, and realized that nobody was really doing proper Chip Butties and great tea.
So I thought: Why not us? Why not now?
So I tossed all those worries in the trash and just started.
I wasn't gonna let pride hold me back from building something real. People can talk all they want, but at the end of the day, they won't have the grind, the courage, or the paycheck I’m building unless they jump into the game themselves!
And honestly? If men from other nations and tribes can come here, roll up their sleeves, and build businesses from scratch, why can’t a Nuer man do the exact same thing?
There is zero shame in hard work. A Nuer man should be proud to hustle, build, and try new things.
Like Koang Kay said, we must do all kinds of work.
There is no place for pride when it comes to honest labour.
Thanks, everyone, for supporting our humble beginning.
Seeing you guys pull up every evening, smile, and love the food makes every single second of prep worth it.
– Emin's