Jomo Tariku, the Ethiopian-American designer, has been putting his body, mind, and soul into furniture design for the past thirty years. However, being in a cutthroat competitive industry is difficult for designs with cultural ethos to make their breakthrough, for which Tariku is known. Tariku finally got his moment in the sun when he got an offer from Marvel to feature his designs in the superhero movie Wakanda Forever.
He was in disbelief after hearing this proposal, because getting his designs onto the sets of a Marvel movie is a big deal. Consequently, five of his furniture designs appeared in the movie including the infamous Ashanti Stool and the Nyala Chair. Although the Nyala is only visible in one small scene toward the end of the movie, it resonates with the cultural significance of both the furniture designer and the movie.
Despite just one glimpse, what stood out was the design of the furniture which was inspired by the endangered antelopes of Bale Mountains, East Africa. It is to be noted that the population of these animals has been declining for the past 40 years.
Tariku created the chair to bring more attention to the species and to protect it from going extinct. To heighten awareness on the matter, Tariku designed the chair with a low backrest and legs that resemble the shape of soaring horns and sturdy hind legs of the animal.
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Its curved backrest slightly morphs into tiny armrests resembling the horns of antelopes. The circular-triangular seat is based on three legs, and these are slightly arched from the end. Its glossy look and small shape make it attractive and portable.
The Nyala Chair is made of Mahogany or walnut wood and is finished in either ash black or a wooden finish. It is a fine piece of furniture that not only offers comfy seating but also elevates the aesthetics of your home by giving it a touch of African heritage. Available on the official website of the designer, it costs $5,800.
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