Things I Thought About x Prince.s Des Villes: In Conversation with Gunifort Uwambaga, owner & publisher of Mendo Books.
This week we get up, close and personal with the Rwanda-born entrepreneur and discover how his love for books turned into a culturally impactful creative endeavor.
Gunifort Uwambaga is soft-spoken; an elegant man with the power to instantly put you at ease. A gentle grin accessorized the smart suit he was wearing when he welcomed us into his beautiful book shop inside the prestigious Hotel De L’Europe in the center of Amsterdam.
Upscale yet nonchalant, Gunifort showed us around the house, elucidating us on the history of the building, the various rooms and art pieces hung on the wall — our voices the only thing disrupting the religious silence filling each empty corner in the hotel.
A charming presence, Gunifort’s charisma brings you back to a time that is now long gone. His passion for books and culture permeated every word coming out of his mouth.
To call the story behind how he came to be the owner of Mendo inspiring would be an understatement, so I’ll let you decide the right adjective once you are done listening to the podcast. Enjoy!