After more than 25 years of living all over Africa, Anja and Jumbe Sebunya have an incredible collection of art from artists from Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique and more. These pieces create the backbone of their decor, filling their home with color.

“We both love contemporary visual art, so it’s filled with art that’s very bright with vibrant colors,” said Anja. “We started collecting in Ghana in the early ’90s.”

They are also looking to blend the art they see in Atlanta’s art scene with the work they collected during their years in Africa.

“I looked at some of the contemporary artists from Atlanta, and got one or two pieces from here as well just to see how much dialogue we could develop in conversation between artists,” said Jumbe. “We’re very passionate about it.”

Anja and Jumbe Sebunya bought their Old Fourth Ward duplex in 2018. The couple moved to the area from Decatur after realizing that most of what they did for fun involved traveling into Atlanta. They filled their home with art collected during the 25 years that they spent living in different parts of Africa. Anja works at the Atlanta International School, and Jumbe is a retired international humanitarian assistance executive with Care. He is also the owner of a startup specializing in African contemporary art and design called aKAZ!ATL. Text by Shannon Dominy. Photo by Reynolds Rogers.

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Their love of African art is so great that this year the couple began aKAZ!ATL, a startup specializing in African contemporary art and design. They work with African artists and artists from Atlanta, building marketing opportunities and creating space for a narrative about Africa that is about coping, resilience, innovation and transformational beauty.

“Our startup is to create a space for those encounters to happen between what is happening on the African continent and here in Atlanta and the Southeast,” said Anja. “Hopefully we can curate collections of art and design, interior decoration and jewelry.”

Their home will be on the Old Fourth Ward Tour of Homes on Sept. 22.

Snapshot

Residents: Anja and Jumbe Sebunya. Anja is an executive assistant at Atlanta International School, and Jumbe is a retired international humanitarian assistance executive with Care. He is also the owner of a startup specializing in African contemporary art and design called aKAZ!ATL.

Location: Old Fourth Ward

Size: 1,900 square feet with three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms

Year built/bought: 2018

Builder: Rob Morel with C3 Companies Inc.

Developer: Karim Shariff with PacificPoint Realty, LLC

Architectural style: Modern

Favorite architectural elements: Sleek lines and light-filled rooms, loft area

Interior design styles: Modern with African art and decor

Favorite interior design elements: African art collected over many years of living in Africa, Senegalese desk made from glass and an oil drum.

Favorite outdoor features: Juliet balcony in master bedroom, deck

Resources: Furniture and decor from Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Kudzu Antiques + Modern, Macy's and Target. Art by Assane Gning, Ablade Glover, Dede Ly, Ndouts Ndoye, Abdoulaye Diallo, Saadio Diallo, Anne Marie Gabel'art, Magupela and others. Kitchen appliances by Bosch.

CONTACT US

If you have a beautifully designed home in the Atlanta area, we’d love to feature you! Email Shannon.N.Dominy@gmail.com for more info.