Jermaine Michael Johnson

Youth in Business

Nominee's Province:
Gauteng

Age:
30

Project Name/Description:
African Uncle

More info:
https://africanuncle.co.za/

Jermaine Michael Johnson, 30, founder and managing director of African Uncle, must thank his mom Chanell Bloem for relocating to Nigeria and funding his start-up business with R2 500 to buy stock. “She started feeding me with authentic African fabric patterns and gifts,” Johnson says. African Uncle is an authentic brand that pays homage to the African heritage as detailed in the patterns and prints, such as Kente, Ndebele and Ankara. The company produces trendy accessories such as caps, backpacks, wine coolers, laptop sleeves, toiletry bags and many others. The business also specialises in corporate gifting. Johnson has a diploma in transport management and logistics from the University of Johannesburg. His most recent accomplishment was establishing his brand presence in London in the UK and New Zealand. “If you have a dream, write it down, nurture it and take that leap of faith because you only have one body and one life to live,” Johnson advises other youngsters.