I'm shaped by a culture which puts an enormous pride into its design of i.e. furniture.
Danes pay a lot to decorate their homes with furniture and assecories carefully selected. Design is part of Danish culture and the identity of our home.
Personally, one side of me loves Danish design, and I do appreciate that it is characterised by Nordic lightness and pure, natural fabrics of good quality.
But in most cases I can't afford it, or I simply find it too 'clean' or 'thought about'. Within my collection of furniture and items, which at present are stored at my brother's farm in Denmark - and supposedly are to re-make my home in Denmark - I do expect to relocate a few items which can be tagged 'classic Danish design'. But they are either inherited or bought second-hand, and besides, after four years in boxes I don't even remember what I have, and I don't really care that much.
Living here - on a way more minimalistic level - makes me feel conveniently free of the demand to come on as someone who has got her Danish design in place.
The Tanzanian street design is based on what you have, is what you got. And to make that function. Functionality appears to be key. A classical Tanzanian design is the 'watchman's chair'. Any compound or shop has a watchman who needs a chair. It often appears that if it wears out, he'll have to fix it himself. And he does.
Resulting in the fact that watchmen's chairs are highly, personalised items of contemporary Tanzanian design.
This one on the photo is from Kisutu in central Dar Es Salaam, and is in fact constructed by two different chairs, living fully up to the principle of making what you've got, function.
