Stools are used in most cultures; we all need to sit. What makes African stools so special is that many of them carry a purpose beyond their function. Carved wooden stools were widespread in Africa during the 20th century, especially in the region of sub-Saharan West Africa. Today, African stools still hold their own. Only now they’ve slipped into living rooms, art galleries, and glossy magazines.
African stools can have diverse functions - such as a household object, or to be used in rites of passage, as a symbol of chieftaincy - but one thing all stools have in common is the craftsmanship and history embedded in them. African stools are works of art that elevate any corner of your home.
Most of the stools were made in the late 19th or early 20th centuries. African stools are commonly backless, armless, and low to the ground. They may be commissioned from an artisan or created by their owners.
These stools are often quite intricate, but the tools used to make them are usually simple-axes, adzes, knives, and chisels. All of the stools in the collection are made of wood, but the specific type of wood used differs depending on community and artist, and could be chosen for such attributes as durability or ease of carving.
Although round stools are ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa, their degree of refinement varies. Most stools are carved from a single block of wood. The visible carving marks create a rustic, elemental look where the creator’s handiwork is very apparent. Although the similarities may occur as the result of the specialized function of stools, individual self-expression is highly prized.
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Like most items in African tribal art, this stool is very special as it is a unique creation, containing a piece of Africa and its wonderful cultures in it. Seats have always had a very special place in African culture. A stool could mark your rank, hold your spirit, or serve as a key item in every day tasks.
Types of African Stools
Here are some of the most notable types of African stools:
- Bamileke Stool: The Spider Everyone Wants at Home
- Senufo Stool: Carved in One Breath
- Ashanti Stool: When Furniture Becomes Legend
- Tonga Stool: Geometry with Grip
Selecting The Right Bar Stools
Bamileke Stool
The Bamileke kingdom of Cameroon is famed for its woodcarving, and the stool is its star. While leopards, elephants, and buffalo sometimes appear in regal versions of the designs, the “Spider Stool” is the one that stole the spotlight in everyday homes.
The spider is seen as a messenger, linking the living world with the spiritual. Out of all African stools, this one might be the most versatile in modern interiors. Oversized versions hold their ground as coffee tables, while smaller ones moonlight as decorative, or functional side tables. Also a great extra seat if you put a cushion on it.
Bamileke and Ashanti stools are bold enough to shine solo. Place one in your entryway, at the foot of your sofa, or between two chairs, and you’ve got instant sculpture. Some people even stack two for added drama.
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Beyond looking good, African stools can be the functional pieces you never knew you needed. Tonga, Lobi, and Bamileke stools can serve as side tables that catch your book next to a reading chair, folded towels in the bathroom, or even nightstands around your bed. Bamileke versions even go big enough to be one of the most eye-catching coffee tables you’ve ever laid your eyes on.
The examples I have given show the religious, social, and cultural power African stools can have, as well as the everyday uses for which they are made. There are still many more stools in our collection, and I suggest investigating them in person or online-it might make you think twice about the roles the chairs in your home may hold.
The Asante stools, also referred to as Akan stools, were my favorites of those I came across in my research. For the Asante people of Ghana these stools are much more than chairs, and they have been used for centuries in Asante culture. Their origin goes back to the unification ceremony of the Asante state, around the year 1680. During this ceremony, the priest Okomfo Anokye summoned a Golden Stool from the sky. This stool settled on the lap of Osei Tutu, making him the first king of the Asante people. This also explains the importance of these stools in Asante visual and political culture.
Today, these rectangular stools have various functions. They can be found in every Ghanaian household and are used as an everyday household item, in rites of passage, as a sacred object containing one’s spiritual essence, in ancestor veneration, and as a political symbol.
They can also take many different forms with geometric shapes, animals, and humans embedded into the design-all while maintaining an essential rectangular shape.
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Seventeenth-century Ghana gave the world one of the greatest design legends: the Golden Stool. No one could sit on it - not even the king. From that myth grew the tradition of wooden Ashanti stools. Chiefs, elders, and figures of rank used them as emblems of power. They share a familiar shape: curved seat, sturdy base, and legs that range from blocks carved with geometric designs, to animal shapes.
Ashanti stools today often live as standalone art objects in homes. If I had to choose only one stool for myself, this would probably be it.
Another group of stools created for utilitarian purposes are those created by the Senufo of Cote d’Ivoire. These stools are low-lying, made from a single block of wood, and easily portable.
The Senufo people of Ivory Coast carve their stools from a single block of wood. No nails, no seams, just pure hand skill and a surprisingly simple design. Traditionally, lower stools were used by women during chores, while taller ones marked ceremonies and gatherings.
Although Senufo art has been admired in the West for over a century, the stools themselves only recently became design darlings. Social media had a lot to do with that.
Their form is timeless-smooth, sculptural, and unpretentious. The seat has a subtle curve, while the wide, chunky legs give them presence. They’re useful but also quietly beautiful.
Senufo stools’ design is so versatile that they can sit comfortably in nearly any interior. But I find that they really come alive in cozy spaces.
One quality about Senufo stools, along with many other African stools, is the gendered aspect of their design. This is a different concept than we have in the West.
Stools like the ones in our collection are typically used in rural Senufo communities by women during washday. Their low height allows women to sit in shallow waters and wash clothes in the river. Men have their own type of seat, similar to those used by women, except they have a backrest. This allows the man to recline while being seated, which suggests that these stools were not made for work, but instead for relaxation.
There’s something about Senufo stools that makes a space feel anchored. Maybe it’s the solid form, or maybe it’s the quiet history carved into every curve. Either way, once you bring one into your home, its presence is felt.
The Senufo people, also spelled Senoufo, live in West Africa. They’re spread across Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Mali. They’re known for their agricultural lifestyle, but within the community, artisan groups hold a strong place too. That’s where the Senufo stools come in.
Carving one wasn’t just woodworking. It reminds us that beauty can be quiet. That craftsmanship still matters.
Senufo, Tonga, Lobi, and Bamileke stools work beautifully topped with a vase, African bowl, or stack of books. It’s like putting jewelry on a piece of art: it already looked good, but now it’s even more beautiful.
And last but not least, smaller stools like mini Senufo or Lobi pieces can join your console or shelf styling. They’ve carried chiefs, anchored ceremonies, and traveled across continents, only to find new roles in our homes.
Their design is distinct: thick circular bases and tops, connected by zigzag, straight, or rounded legs. Those legs aren’t just sculptural - they also double as handles.
Historically, Tonga stools signified rank and authority, especially for elders. They also showed up in ceremonies and gatherings, which added layers of meaning to their design.
The Lobi people, originally from today’s Ghana and later spread into Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, are known for woodwork that defy a single definition. Especially their stools.
Because the designs vary so much, “Lobi stool” can mean several things. The most common version today is a four-legged piece with chunky cylindrical supports and a round top.
“The most important element of African furniture remains without question the seat, linked to the social rank of its owner. Travelers’ accounts from the 17th and 18th centuries indicate that when a chief moved, his seat followed him, carried by a servant.” - African Objects, L.
Styling Tips
Here are some tips on how to style African stools in your home:
- Use as a Side Table: Place a Senufo stool right in front of a cozy lounge chair. It acts as a tiny side table or even a footrest.
- Styling in Pairs: Try combining different sizes-maybe a lower, chunkier stool next to a taller, slimmer one. Two stools together can do what one can’t.
- Larger Space: If you’re working with more space, a Senufo bench might be your dream find. Traditionally used as daybeds, they now double as stunning console tables or long coffee tables. Place one under art or next to a large indoor plant, and it becomes the heart of the room.
Table: African Stool Types and Their Uses
| Stool Type | Origin | Traditional Use | Modern Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamileke | Cameroon | Symbol of status, spiritual messenger | Coffee table, side table, decorative piece |
| Senufo | Ivory Coast | Daily chores (women), ceremonies | Side table, decorative accent |
| Ashanti | Ghana | Emblem of power, symbol of chieftaincy | Standalone art object |
| Tonga | Various | Signified rank and authority | Side table, decorative piece |
| Lobi | Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire | Varies widely | Side table, decorative piece |
What makes Senufo stools so special isn’t just their form-it’s their origin. These pieces come from a community that values function and beauty equally. That’s the magic of design with a soul.
