For many women in East Africa, buying beauty products meant choosing items designed for different skin tones and climates. But a newer wave of African-led brands is changing that narrative. One of them is Bellazuri, now entering the Rwandan market with a focus on locally relevant beauty products.
Bellazuri launched in Kigali on October 3, 2025, with a public event at The Retreat in Kiyovu. According to media reports, the brand was co-founded by René and Guiliano Stiegelmann in Uganda and combines German-technology production with African expertise, targeted at dark skin tones.
The founder of a related brand, Zuri Luxury Hair & Beauty, is Gisèla Van Houcke, according to multiple sources. Zuri was established in 2016 and operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda, with a mission to tailor beauty products for African women.
While Bellazuri appears distinct from Zuri, both brands reflect the growing trend of African-owned beauty houses rethinking what inclusion means in cosmetics. Bellazuri’s launch materials state that their products are designed for “African skin” and use natural ingredients such as shea butter, castor oil, and avocado oil, according to the launch coverage.
Bellazuri’s arrival in Rwanda responds to a tangible market need. The African beauty market is valued at tens of billions of dollars and is growing rapidly. Brands like Zuri highlight how local entrepreneurs are carving out niche opportunities; for example, Zuri reported rapid growth and expansion from its founding year.
In Kigali, consumers and make-up artists welcomed Bellazuri’s arrival. The brand emphasises accessible pricing and improved matching of foundation and skincare products for darker-skinned clients. Its Rwanda launch emphasized “products created for us, made for our skin” and affordability.
Bellazuri’s arrival in Kigali adds to a wave of brands reshaping Africa’s beauty industry from within, giving women more choices, products designed for their skin, and an opportunity to see representation in what they purchase. As one local make-up artist said during the launch, “Finally a product that understands us, not makes us adapt.”
