Business and activism go hand-in-hand for Sask. brothers who say future looks 'Blacker and brighter'

For the Mthembu brothers, activism and community involvement has always been a central part of their lives.  

Tiro, Thabo, and Mandla Mthembu were raised in Maple Creek, Sask., southwest of Regina. Their mother was a church leader who was heavily involved in the community. They often watched as she provided meals to people who needed them.

Their father was a freedom fighter and political refugee from South Africa during apartheid who immigrated to Saskatchewan in the 1980s.

They said the teachings from both parents have influenced the work they do in the community today as activists, organizers, and entrepreneurs. 

"We were very heavily influenced by progressive politics and the understanding of being an active member of the community," said Tiro.

Thabo and Tiro opened The Hampton Hub in Regina in 2022, after previously owning a food truck in the city. The restaurant was named after Black Panther Party member Fred Hampton, whom the brothers also cite as an inspiration behind their activism. 

The brothers use the restaurant as a space of giving and teaching, often hosting 'Teach-in-Tuesdays' to help bring awareness or highlight critical issues in the community, with this month's teach-ins tied to Black History Month.

"It's always been in our roots to create a space. That is something that's been very uplifting for us," said Thabo. 

He said the space is an obligation and commitment to create a more "just society" within their community. 

The brothers' love for community often came with feeling isolated within their own. They said growing up in a small town on the Prairies, there were times they were treated differently because of their Black and mixed-race background.

"Being Black on the Prairies in a small kind of rural town, we represented a lot more than just ourselves a lot of times. We weren't the norm — there weren't a lot of people that looked like us in our town," said Mandla. 

"It was sometimes seen as almost like we're a mistake or something different," Thabo said. 

But the brothers hope that they're able to help change the narrative for other Black people and people of colour on the Prairies through their work.

"Every day, this community gets Blacker and brighter, and we want to continue to shine light and showcase the love that we have for our Black identity," Tiro said.