Which Way for Modern African Interiors?

As a wild generalisation, when it comes to African interiors, if you’re living on the continent, it’s almost as if there are two polar extremes: all or nothing.

Photo credit, Grant. Durr, Unsplash

All being full-on ‘tribal’: masks, motifs, animal prints; mud cloth; massive, ‘native’ monochrome portraits; acres of very dark wood; and black, white, beige colour palettes. Go ahead and google African interiors, see for yourself. If you listen hard you’ll probably hear drums beating in the background. This look, by the way, is rarely embraced by Africans themselves, unless foreigners are involved.Then, depressingly, on the other end of the spectrum – zero, zilch, nada, reference to anything remotely connected to the Motherland, interior style-wise. And yet, here we go, hash tagging ProudlyAfrican all over the internet.

Why is this? 

Interior Styling: An African Eye | Photography: Ash Appleton

Maybe it’s because the whole ‘Afri-heritage’ look-at-home thing was never ours to own in the first place. It’s basically a foreign construct, drip fed via Out of Africa, Pinterest, perfectly curated Insta feeds, and imported, glossy magazines, showcasing residences in London, Paris, Chicago, or closer to home — luxurious, remote safari lodges that many of us never frequent. It’s no wonder then that full bloom, in your face, Africana is hardly ever a go-to style choice. Meanwhile, as we happily load our trolleys with shiny, Chinese objects, tourists and expats ply downtown markets in Nairobi, Accra and Maputo looking for locally-made,’ rustic’ homewares.  

 But hang on. There’s got to be a compromise, some sort of middle ground, a sweet spot where: colour confidently lives; old fuses with brand new and recycled; artisanal crafts jostle for space with carpet-bagged IKEA; and home-grown art graces many an African wall. Some call this ‘Afro-Chic,’ which sounds kind of polite and well behaved to me, like we’re still waiting for permission. Maybe ‘Afri-Boho’ is a better moniker? Personally, I’ve signed up to the Africa-modern, eclectic movement. I’m a diehard devotee. It distills down to a locally referenced, more often urban aesthetic, with foreign influences a plenty. Above all else, it about pivoting from predictable, bland and beige. At its core, there’s a nod to exuberance— picture vivid hues with tonnes of PERSONALITY thrown in.

Labelling and tagging aside, we’ve got to start singing a different African interior-style song; a melody that says something about who we are NOW, where, and how we live. It’s time to reclaim our décor narrative and celebrate the vibrancy, creativity and opportunities on our doorsteps. Here’s to Afro Nouveau. I’ll drink to that. 

Interior Styling: An African Eye | Photography: Ash Appleton