Delve into the rich cultural heritage of African art with this chair originating from East Africa.

This “kiti cha enzi,” or ‘Chair of Power,’ represents the pinnacle of Swahili furniture craftsmanship, a culmination of centuries of skill and tradition, highlighting the East African coast’s crucial involvement in the wider Indian Ocean trade routes. These chairs, produced solely in Mombasa, Paté, Lamu, and Zanzibar, exhibit a transition from the simplistic designs of the pre-18th century to the elaborate extravagance characteristic of the 19th century.

The chair’s sharp-angled design, intricate stringing, and inlaid ivory or bone panels showcase a harmonious blend of local craftsmanship and external influences acquired through trade. While it was typical for wealthy families to possess at least four pairs of these prestigious chairs, their usage was strictly reserved for distinguished visitors, esteemed guests, and important family members, with others resorting to low wooden beds or mats.

However, the Swahili chair, in its various iterations, transcended social boundaries. The most luxurious and intricately decorated versions were found in the homes of the affluent, but simpler and less adorned versions played similar roles in the more modest homes of the town’s poorer residents, highlighting the chair’s broad cultural relevance across different societal levels.

Source: British Museum.