It sounds like a new board game. But Wenge is actually a rich and deep wood hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Now some wood aficionados might be saying a snooty “but of course,” but I was truly stumped when interviewing furniture designer Rob Day on some of his recent pieces. He was busy explaining that nobody was injured during the making of his coffee table, and I was left pretending I knew what he was talking about.
For all those that missed that part in class, Wenge is from the Millettia laurentii timber and is used for everything from flooring to cabinetry. Its dark complexion is further characterized by thin blond streaks, setting it apart from other dark woods. What makes it desirable is its beauty and durability, but it is still an endangered wood in some regions of Africa. Despite the high price of importing Wenge, it is available on the market at every price point-- I’ve even spotted Wenge cabinets at Target.
So why was Rob Day explaining to me the social ramifications of getting the wood out of Africa? -- Civil War. I’ve followed the fighting taking place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tens of thousands are either dead, have been raped or fleeing for their lives as a result of a civil war that has been going on since the late nineties, but is only recently receiving our media attention. This area is known for its abundance of gold and diamonds-- its export of Wenge is insignificant in comparison. And though I haven’t seen any evidence of people harmed in the exporting of Wenge, it is hard to bring up the beauty of the DR Congo’s exports without the bloodshed leaving a bitter taste in your mouth.
Though Wenge is not the only wood being exported out of that region of Africa, it is becoming one of the most sought after. I cringe to think of the social affects on the Democratic Republic of the Congo if this wood becomes a serious trend.
For more information on the DR Congo please visit the following websites:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4604627.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4259171.stm
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/03/22/congo.01/
*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 5/16/06
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