KA IWE Volume 2

Contemporary African Reading Stool

The KA IWÉ Stool (translation: Read A Book), created by RIA Design Studio, was born from a desire to recontextualise traditional African stools for 21st-century contemporary households. Traditionally, African stools symbolised authority, ancestry, and cultural identity, serving ritual and practical purposes. This modern interpretation honours that legacy, drawing inspiration from everyday rituals of reading, sitting, waiting and pondering. The materials and textures used in making this stool are greatly inspired by Nigerian culture, and its ingenious pocket design offers a practical solution for storing books and magazines.