Zaria Chair

The Zaria Chair brings contemporary furniture design into dialogue with West African seating traditions. Conceived by NLÉ for Zaria Court in Kigali, its carefully balanced wooden structure makes the construction itself the defining visual element.

Four interlocking timber planks reinterpret the construction logic of traditional birthing chairs and ceremonial thrones from northern Nigeria. Round cushions soften the sculptural geometry, creating a distinctive armchair for the hotel’s interiors.

The structure is assembled without screws or nails, relying on precise joints and gravity. Designed in 2025 by Kunlé Adeyemi and Berend Strijland of NLÉ, with Wood Services Ltd, the chair reflects a synthesis of material economy, craftsmanship and cultural memory.