If Each Zodiac Sign Were a Swahili Woodcarving Style
Swahili Woodcarving has always been more than decoration, it is also a form of storytelling. Inspired by that timeless beauty, what would each zodiac sign might look like if expressed through Swahili woodcarving art?
From the precise Bajuni geometric carvings to the fluid Siu pattern and the bold Zanzibar doors, every style carries its own emotion and energy. Together, they tell the story of how Swahili artisans carved not only wood but identity, philosophy, and spirit into every surface.
For the grounded souls like Taurus, I saw the steady rhythm of the Mkorosho (Cashew Plant) motif — rooted, sensual, and abundant.
Cancer, the nurturer, found a home in the soft flow of Maua ya Mzabibu (Grapevine), a design that feels like an embrace.
The radiant Leo mirrors the Bajuni Star, bold and magnetic.
While Virgo finds order and beauty in the crisp precision of Bajuni geometry.
The Zanzibar door, a perfect blend of Bantu and Arab craftsmanship, captures Gemini’s spirit of duality and exchange. Two worlds in dialogue, carved in perfect symmetry.
Libra lives in the harmony of this Bajuni variation.
Aquarius breathes innovation through the airy Siu pattern, a dance of line and space.
The Mkorosho variation bursts with Aries energy, daring and alive.
The flowing Indian carving style captures Sagittarius’ free spirit.
While Scorpio’s intensity reveals itself in the layered, mysterious Arabian floral pattern.
The Lamu door style holds the quiet strength of Capricorn, disciplined, patient, and timeless.
And Pisces, ever fluid and emotional, finds reflection in the Fish Scales pattern, echoing the rhythm of the sea that has long shaped Swahili coastal life.
This project was born from curiosity — to see how the spirit of the zodiac could meet the artistry of Swahili design. Each carving is a universe of symbolism: waves of the ocean, stars of the night sky, vines of the earth. And like astrology itself, Swahili woodcarving reminds us that everything — nature, spirit, craft, and culture — is deeply connected.
Which carving speaks to your spirit?