Lembrih Marketplace enters e-commerce with a mission to empower Black and African vendors

Photo courtesy of Lembrih Marketplace.

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As the global e-commerce market continues to expand, a growing number of consumers are seeking platforms that align with their values. Ethical shopping, conscious consumerism, and support for Black-owned businesses are no longer niche interests. They are shaping how people choose where to spend their money.

Lembrih Marketplace is positioning itself at the intersection of those shifts.

Founded by Ghanaian entrepreneur Latifa Seini, Lembrih Marketplace is a mission-first e-commerce platform designed to support Black and African vendors who have historically struggled to gain visibility on mainstream marketplaces.

Seini’s inspiration came from firsthand experience. Before launching Lembrih, she ran Flaunt Ankara, an African print business that connected her with customers across borders. While demand existed, growth was constrained by high seller fees, limited discoverability, and platforms that were not designed with culturally rich brands in mind.

Those challenges are not unique. Many small-batch creators and artisans face similar barriers when attempting to scale their businesses globally.

Lembrih addresses these issues with a vendor-first pricing model. Sellers receive 30 days commission-free, followed by a choice between a $10 monthly subscription plus 10 percent commission or a 15 percent commission with no subscription. According to Seini, the goal is to lower the financial barrier to entry while allowing vendors to retain more of their earnings.

Beyond pricing, Lembrih integrates social impact into every transaction. The platform donates $1 from each purchase to charitable causes, reinforcing its commitment to community uplift and ethical commerce.

The name “Lembrih,” meaning “black” in the Gonja language of Ghana, reflects the platform’s cultural foundation and its focus on amplifying underrepresented voices in e-commerce.

Seini’s professional background also informs the platform’s development. Working in IT training and enablement, she has led leadership programs and initiatives focused on the future of AI and workforce development. That experience shapes Lembrih’s scalable infrastructure and long-term vision.

The marketplace is currently in its Kickstarter pre-launch phase, with the campaign aimed at funding final development, onboarding vendors, and expanding brand awareness ahead of its official launch.

Supporters include conscious consumers, creatives, and advocates for Black-owned business platforms who are seeking alternatives to traditional e-commerce models.

As consumer behavior continues to evolve, Lembrih Marketplace represents a growing movement toward commerce that prioritizes fairness, culture, and impact alongside profitability.