Afri Modern aka AM is a Johannesburg-based multi-disciplinary design studio that tells stories through the design of products. Established in 2018 by storyteller and interior designer Sifiso Shange to tell African Nguni stories through design. The stories are told through products also known as furniture stories in the form of servers, cabinets, coffee tables, side tables, dining tables and benches.
Afri Modern furniture stories show a common theme that can be best described as boldly African and modernist, with strong pattern motifs inspired by African Nguni geometry lines and bold colours that form the visual narrative of the story expressed. The work is conceptually African contemporary with seven values that express the stories shared:
Afri Modern Story Values – Ubugugu Bethu
U T H A N D O
Love
I N H L O N I P H O
Respect
U K U N A K E K E L A
Care
U K U L A L E L A
Listen
U K U B A M B I S A N A
Unity
U K U T H E M B A
Faith
U K U L I N D A
Patience
Sifiso Shange
Storyteller & Modern Zulu Man
“I have a deep passion to express more but for now furniture stories will carry the messages and stories, art and fashion will follow. Afri Modern is a lifestyle and way of thinking, a modern African way of life that celebrates who we are and your stories, ngiyabonga, siyabonga”.
View our furniture stories