Exploring new materials and forms while maintaining a deep philosophical connection to wood, particularly Iroko wood.The first piece in the Igbo series is a sideboard, crafted from burned black steel and black oiled Oak. This marks a departure from my previous collection, Zoumey (name for a forest of Iroko, which was deeply rooted in the essence of Iroko trees and their cultural significance in West African voodoo traditions—a fascination I developed during my travels to West Africa with my father.Igbo from Yoruba (Nigeria, Benin): “Ibi Gbigbe Igbo” literally translates to “logging site” or “place of cutting wood”, draws inspiration not from the wood itself, but from the awe-inspiring sight of massive piles of timber stacked together. This series is an homage to the modesty reverence I felt in the presence of these imposing wooden forms. In creating Igbo, I aim to capture the dramatic interplay of these shapes and translate them into designs. By integrating black burned steel, I am expanding beyond the boundaries of wood, while still honoring its spirit and form.While wood, especially Iroko, will always hold a place in my creative process, the Igbo collection represents a new chapter where my workis not confined to one material.

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