By Semafor Africa
Photos: The African Decor Edit
Nasozi Kakembo is a designer, author and journalist whose design practice and import business, xN Studio, launched in New York and Kampala, Uganda, in 2011. She works exclusively with artisans from across Africa. She recently launched her debut book, The African Decor Edit: Collecting and Decorating with Heritage Objects.
💡 What inspired your new book? I use the book to collect and share the stories of culturally significant African objects — from Malian mud cloth to Moroccan rugs — from the source and offer guidance on sourcing, collecting, and decorating with each object. I curated 10 homes from around the globe to showcase interiors appointed with African decor in innovative and meaningful ways.
💡 How did you start working with artisans on the continent? Initially, it was a meaningful way for me to connect more deeply with artisans and Ugandan culture that I grew up with, but not in, having been raised in Washington D.C. It was also a creative outlet and an additional stream of income for me when I was still working at an international philanthropy in NYC.
💡 Which products are the most popular with your customers in the United States?
The most popular products are the ekibbo (Ugandan baskets), any of the bogolan pillows (mud cloth), and the wood carved salad servers (also from Uganda, and Kenya).
