187. What an Afro Comb Can Teach You about Design - Jomo Tariku

What does it take to change an entire industry? Thirty years ago, Jomo Tariku, then an industrial design student, noticed something profound missing in his university library: contemporary African furniture designers. This observation sparked a decades-long journey of persistence and vision.

I sit down with Jomo to discuss his path from sketching designs in his garage while working other jobs to having his celebrated work featured in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He shares how his father's incredible story as a refugee gave him the hubris to persist through a 27-year wait for recognition. Tune in to learn how he translates his heritage (from the horns of the Nyala antelope to the powerful symbolism of the Afro-comb) into functional, modern art.

Tune in to this story about patience, process, and the fight to redefine the creative canon.

Chapters

02:22 The Collector's Home: Early Influences from a Father's Travels

05:13 Breadcrumbs: From Drawing Objects to Industrial Design

09:34 The Missing Narrative: A Thesis on African Furniture

14:14 The "Hubris" of an Orphan: A Father's Legacy of Courage

18:59 The Story of the Mito Chair: Connecting Continents with an Afro-Pick

24:37 A Commission for Seneca Village: The Met Afrofutures Room

26:08 The Designer's Process: Collaboration and Master Craftsmanship

31:40 The Balance of Beauty and Function

33:41 How 3D Printing Changed the Game

39:36 The Cost of a Prototype

42:18 The Nyala Chair: "The One That Put Me on the Map"

42:48 The 27-Year Wait and the Rise of BADG

45:10 Advocating for a More Inclusive Canon

47:33 Redefining Success: Joy, Research, and Community

Connect with Jomo:

Follow Jomo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jomotariku

Jomo's Website: https://jomotariku.com/

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This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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