Kukua, “to grow” in Swahili, is a Tanzanian company founded in 2021 in Zanzibar by French designer Emmanuel Babled.
Our commitment is to value, promote and strengthen Tanzanian craft capacity, creating local high-quality products for modern interiors inspired by local culture.
We Design.
We Craft.
We Inspire.
Kukua is dedicated to bridging Tanzanian crafts with contemporary design for a more sustainable collaboration, meeting the needs of the thriving hospitality industry.
This project seeks to empower men and women in Tanzania by creating job opportunities, while fostering their development and linking their crafts to the worldwide market.
We aim to enhance skills, support entrepreneurship, and create lasting economic impact, fostering empowerment that benefits individuals and contributes to Tanzania's overall socio-economic development.
Team
Designer Emmanuel Babled, founder of Kukua, is also the director of a design studio based in Portugal. Babled relies on his team of designers, architects, managers and social entrepreneurs as the driving force behind the realisation of this project in Tanzania.
With a wealth of 30 years of experience in furniture design, Babled has fostered close collaborations with the craftsmen who produce his pieces. Guided by an ideology that emphasises the appreciation and reinvention of traditional techniques, he advocates for their recognition and continuity.
Since its establishment in 2021, Kukua's team has expanded to include local members, and the project is now powered by the collective efforts of the entire team, including:
Emmanuel Babled – Founder, Shareholder and Director of Kukua
Lorenza Marzo – Director of Kukua
Matilde Ferreira – Projects and Operations Manager
Marta Fróis – Communication Manager
Cecilia Diaz - Graphic Designer
Hugo Albuquerque – Design Director
Davide Natarelli – Architect
Carlos Cipriano – Chief Financial Officer
Denis Bandoma – Our Local Manager in Zanzibar
Mariam Mfwangavo – Our Local Manager in Tanzania
