Visi – August 2019

NO

4

PORTRAIT

ANDREA CALDWELL

INTERVIEW

MICHAELA STEHR

FIT FOR A QUEEN

TheboldNenzimaserver

is thelatestadditionto

furnituredesigncompany

TheUrbanative’sAfrican

Crowns Collection.

MphoVackier,

furnituredesigner

andfounderof

TheUrbanative,

fillsus in on the

inspirationand

processbehindthe

Nenzima server.

Tellus aboutyourinspirationfor
theAfricanCrownsCollection.The
lines,formsandtexturesof traditional
Africanhairstylesinspiredthis
furniturecollection.Hairhasalways
playeda significantrolein theculture
of ancientAfricancivilisations;it has
been a symbol and disseminator of

familybackground,socialstatus,

spirituality,fertility,differingtribesand

maritalstatus.Thiscollectionseeksto

celebratethemagicof Africanhairand

therelationshipbetween African hair

and identity.

Whatmooddo youaimto evokewith

theNenzimaserver?Boldness.We

wantedto createa personification

of howwe envisionedthestrength

of QueenNenzimaof theMangbetu

people,wholivedin theCongoin

the1920s.Thisfeelingis conveyed

in thepowder-coatingcolour,the

proportionsandthestonecolour

palette we commissioned.

Howdid yougo aboutdesigningit?

We startedworkingon a versionof

thispiecesoonafterwe launchedthe

AfricanCrownsCollectionat Design

Joburg2018.My aimwasto explore

funmaterials,andthecustom-made

terrazzofromNotationDesignis

justthat.Theboldcolourpaletteof

theterrazzomatchesthegorgeous

wine-redpowdercoating.Theshape,

linesanddetailswereinspiredby the

distinctivelookof theelongatedskulls

of mostMangbetuwomenat thetime,

theresultof a customcalledlipombo,

whichinvolvedwrappinga baby’s head

tightlyin clothto shape it.

theurbanative.com

�ISI REASONS

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