Champagne entrepreneurship meets Congo diplomacy
A Congolese entrepreneur based in France, Abed Okanguebe, presented the Champagne project Mea Makoua to Rodolphe Adada, Ambassador of the Republic of the Congo in France. The meeting was framed as part of efforts to keep Congolese citizens abroad connected with their official representation.
- Champagne entrepreneurship meets Congo diplomacy
- A meeting in Paris: what happened on January 15
- Mea Makoua: founders and Champagne craft
- A brand story built on identity and heritage
- A quote that sets the tone for the project
- From Makoua to Champagne: a bridge between worlds
- A Champagne made in a prestigious region
- Ambassador Adada’s reaction after a tasting
According to the account shared by the project, this was a first step before introducing their work to authorities in Brazzaville and, later, to wider audiences internationally. The idea is to show both know-how and the results of an entrepreneurial journey rooted in Congolese identity and built in France.
A meeting in Paris: what happened on January 15
On Thursday, January 15, Abed Okanguebe was received by Ambassador Rodolphe Adada. The visit gave him an opportunity to describe the spirit of Mea Makoua and to explain the story behind the brand in a setting that mixes personal ambition with a desire for representation.
He described Mea Makoua as a structure shaped by childhood dreams, oral heritage, and deep aspirations. In his telling, the brand is meant to reflect an image of something “big” built with pride, and to carry a message that extends beyond a single product.
Mea Makoua: founders and Champagne craft
The project is linked to Geordy Obili and a childhood friend, who chose to produce Champagne using their own barrels. The emphasis, as presented, is on a hands-on approach and on building a product step by step, in a sector where tradition and precision matter.
The founders also underlined a message of responsible consumption, reminding audiences that alcohol abuse is dangerous for health. Their Champagne, they say, is intended to be appreciated with elegance and moderation, positioning the brand within a lifestyle narrative rather than excess.
A brand story built on identity and heritage
Mea Makoua is presented as more than a label, with a narrative designed to “make two worlds talk” to each other. In their own framing, the project seeks to connect the quiet nobility of their native land with the richness of Champagne tradition in France.
They speak about building a bridge between terroir and memory, between excellence and identity, and between ancestors’ silence and the “song” of bubbles. This language aims to place the product within a cultural story where origin and craftsmanship carry equal weight.
A quote that sets the tone for the project
Speaking for himself and his partner, Abed Okanguebe shared a statement that captures their ambition: “We believe Africa should no longer only consume the world’s great wines… It should write the next legends… Mea Makoua is not simply a brand; it is an invitation to write together a new page in the history of Champagne, carried by our voices, our stories, our souls…”
He also said he was happy to have presented Mea Makoua as a generational gesture, an act of transmission and conquest. In this perspective, the entrepreneurial venture is framed as a message to younger audiences: building something global can still be anchored in local roots.
From Makoua to Champagne: a bridge between worlds
During the exchange with the ambassador, Abed Okanguebe described a shared story with his friend, one that he says is “woven in crystal,” where each bubble is imagined as a breath of the past and each sip as a bow toward the future. The language is poetic, aimed at turning origin into emotion.
He also evoked the spirit of “lost kingdoms,” presenting luxury not as privilege but as culture, an art of living, and a celebration of what is sacred. In this narrative, Makoua is not only a name, but an inheritance carried into an effervescent craft.
A Champagne made in a prestigious region
Because the concept is developed in the heart of a renowned Champagne region, the founders argue that each bottle delivered by Mea Makoua is meant to embody excellence and a unique know-how. They position the product as both respectful of tradition and marked by a Congolese touch.
In their view, the value comes from the combination: a terroir known for exceptional standards, and a story tied to Congolese memory. The aim is to make each bottle feel like a “treasure,” a link between two majesties, two worlds, and two forms of heritage.
Ambassador Adada’s reaction after a tasting
The account says Rodolphe Adada was receptive to the presentation. After tasting three cuvées offered during the visit, he wished the best success to Mea Makoua and encouraged the founders’ efforts to bring visibility to the Republic of the Congo through this entrepreneurial initiative.
For the project’s promoters, that endorsement matters as a symbolic sign of support from the Congolese representation in France. The next steps, as presented, are to continue showcasing the work in Brazzaville and elsewhere, with the intention of making the initiative known more broadly.
