20th Century Kenyan Kamba Stool

20th Century Kamba monoxyl stool (carved from a single block of palm wood) from Kenya. 

This charming example is decorated with giraffes and elephants surrounding a central encircled star created from colourful glass beads.

The Kamba people are a Bantu ethnic group who live in the semi-arid formerly Eastern Province of Kenya stretching east from Nairobi to Tsavo and north up to Embu, Kenya.

This land is called Ukambani which comprises the Counties of Makueni, Kitui and Machakos.

These are utilitarian pieces that were made mostly by the Kamba and Dorobo men for family use, they acted as personal seats to the elders.