Safaricom, one of Kenya’s leading mobile service providers in the country, recently organized a Viti Exhibition, an event aimed at nurturing talents in various creative interiors disciplines.
VITI (Swahili for chairs), emerged as the cellular service company’s one of the many ways it focuses at rewarding mobile phone users as they come to a platform to showcase ingenious capabilities.
Going by the company’s history in which innovation has been a key pillar, the VITI event that was ground-breaking novelty according to Bob Collymore, the company’s CEO. The event, he says, sought to provide a platform for Kenyan furniture makers and designers to showcase their work, network with peers and buyers and most importantly, seek and expand into new markets, thereby carving out economic empowerment for them.
In a rare-planning, the three-month exhibition held at Michael Joseph Centre highlighted, among others, the diversity of skills available in the art of furniture making in the country; the use of locally-available raw materials; creativity, innovation and skills development and how furniture makers are helping to achieve sustainability by conserving the environment.
According to some of the visitors, chairs which often go unnoticed or are simply taken for granted offer firm support and comfort when we are tired.
“Their coziness shape a moment’s delight when we are with loved ones,” says Décor Interiors Managing Director, Ms Kamni Mehta who was one of the exhibitors at the event. She added that chairs also express dignity when we want to show our status.
It is interesting how obliquely chairs hear the whispers of souls when they are deep in thought, in solitude or allow them to enjoy a moment of togetherness when shared. Chairs are a part of people lives much as they often do not get the attention they deserve. More than any other piece of furniture, the chair has been feeding the wildest dreams of designers.
A major component of VITI Exhibition was the display of rare masterpieces from local communities, which was crucial in giving a historical perspective to furniture-making in Kenya.
“The event remains a partnership that Safaricom will uphold with the local furniture industry,” said Collymore, while adding that the company will extend a live collaboration with the Kenyan art. Safaricom has invested in supporting the artist community through various initiatives besides sponsoring a growing portfolio of exhibitions.
Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom
