The Heart of Community - Black Cowboy Coffee
Exciting History of the foundation of Black Cowboy Coffee enterprise.
Black Cowboy Coffee pays tribute to the contributions and history of African American cowboys within cowboy culture. In 2001, Emeka Otagburuagu, the owner and founder of Black Cowboy Enterprise, emigrated from England to Texas. With his entrepreneurial skills and independent spirit, he entered the trucking industry, a vital sector of the American economy. He began his career with Schneider Trucking Company in Houston, Texas, transporting chemical tankers across the United States and Canada. Later, he joined JB Hunt Trucking with the opportunity to own his own truck within three years once the lease was paid off. Successfully achieving this, he paid off his Freightliner truck valued at $120,000 and became an owner-operator for the next nine years.
During his time as a trucker, Otagburuagu explored the history of African American cowboys, making significant discoveries in places such as Oklahoma, Denver, Colorado, and Rosenberg, Texas. Residing in Richmond, Texas, near Rosenberg, he confirmed what he had learned from books about Black Cowboys during his boarding school days in Nigeria. Sent to England by his father, John-Chikwendu Otagburuagu, a former Chief Accountant at East Central Bank of Nigeria and founder of John & Charles Associates Consultants in Lagos, Emeka's interest in this history grew. Moreover, his grandfather was the King of Ovungwu in Isi-Ala Ngwa Local Government Area of Nigeria, and owned cattle, which Emeka remembers feeding as a child.
Upon his return to London, England, Otagburuagu was profoundly influenced by his experiences in Texas and America. Inspired by the resilience, strength, and courage of African American cowboys, he established Black Cowboy Enterprise. Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit, he secured a £2,500 loan from the UK government enterprise program and launched his business at a market stall in Elephant and Castle Market in August 2015. After repaying the loan, he steadily expanded the company.
Otagburuagu's resilience has been tested by challenges such as COVID-19, the demolition of the Elephant and Castle shopping centre, and political controversies surrounding the redevelopment of the area. Despite these obstacles, he remains committed to his vision, believing firmly that Elephant and Castle, where he spent much of his youth, is a cherished part of South London and holds a special place in his heart.
Emeka combined his interest in coffee with the history of African American Cowboys to establish Black Cowboy Coffee. He plans to open Black Cowboy Coffee Roastery in South London and introduce coffee from unexplored regions in Africa such as Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. These West African countries are known for growing robusta beans and a hybrid of robusta and arabica beans called arabusta. Nigeria has suitable geography for arabica beans, which are grown in states like Cross River and Taraba state. The Mambilla Plateau in Taraba state, at 1600 feet above sea level, is ideal for growing arabica beans. The aim is to introduce this coffee to the global market, uplift local communities, and foster a distinct culture.
Black Cowboy Coffee: A Creative Outpost
Cultivating Community, Creativity, and Culture Over a Cup
Nestled in the heart of the Elephant and Castle, Black Cowboy Coffee stands not merely as a café but as a creative outpost—a place where ideas roam as freely as the open range and where every cup poured is an invitation to gather, create, and connect. Beyond its aromatic brews and rustic ambiance, Black Cowboy Coffee is a living testament to the power of community, storytelling, and the enduring spirit of innovation.
What sets Black Cowboy Coffee apart is its commitment to fostering creativity, both in its offerings and its atmosphere. The founder, Emeka Otagburuagu, created Black Cowboy Comics based on the authentic story of Luis Xavier de Jesus, West African born Brazilian enslaved person, who later purchased his own freedom and became a prosperous merchant. Emeka co-opted his story and with artistic license, has created a comic book superhero. As this poster shows, Xavier the character story line will keep unfolding as the years go by and will be part of the Black Cowboy Coffee branding profile.
