From childhood moments of rearranging imaginary homes to her first professional milestone with Le Gabriel in Kinshasa, Adonia Mankou Yanate’s journey into interior design has been guided by creativity, resilience, and purpose. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and later based in South Africa, she discovered design almost by chance after being redirected from architecture to interior design, a twist she now describes as divine intervention. Over time, she found her footing by reflecting on what design meant to her and what it could mean for Africa’s future. Her philosophy was sharpened by a question that continues to drive her work: would Africa’s rapidly growing infrastructure serve Africans authentically, or replicate borrowed styles not rooted in the continent’s identity? Determined to chart her own path, Adonia launched Shumukh Design in 2022, a studio whose name—“deserving of the highest”—encapsulates her mission to craft spaces that are functional, culturally resonant, and elevated beyond mere aesthetics.

At its core, Shumukh Design is a storytelling studio. Its approach is deeply informed by Adonia’s Congolese heritage, her exposure to South Africa’s design ecosystem, and the entrepreneurial spirit she inherited from her mother, who built her own business in the beauty industry. Through Shumukh, Adonia champions a definition of luxury rooted in detail, craftsmanship, and authenticity—values that resonate with African traditions such as Ghanaian Kente cloth, Tuareg jewelry, and Ndebele murals. Her recent showcase at Decorex South Africa 2025 embodied this ethos: a student accommodation concept featuring modern wallpaper inspired by Congolese Kuba cloth, proving that African-inspired design can be both commercially viable and globally sophisticated. Beyond aesthetics, her focus remains on how spaces work—ergonomically, emotionally, and narratively—ensuring each project feels considered, human-centered, and meaningful long after completion.

For Africans Column, we had the opportunity to interview Adonia about her journey, creative philosophy, and vision for African design in a global context. In this conversation, she reflects on her early influences, the challenges of building Shumukh Design across South Africa and the DRC, and the values that shape her approach. She shares insights into how she balances collaboration with artisans and architects, her ambition to contribute to hospitality spaces across the continent, and her belief that African design is already luxury—rooted in detail, culture, and lived experience. Her story, filled with conviction and creative courage, echoes Africans Column’s mission to spotlight the people redefining Africa’s cultural and creative landscapes.

Africans Column: Adonia, let’s begin with your roots. Can you share a bit about your background and the experiences or influences—perhaps a childhood memory—that shaped your passion for design and your unique perspective on blending African narratives with universal appeal?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: Growing up I’ve always been quite strong creatively, from playing house and having to design my imaginary space to concept development and design communication during school entrepreneurship days. I’ve always wanted to do something creative but I really landed on Interior Design through what can only be described as divine intervention. I had no idea this was even a career field but after being rejected by the architecture department, the interior design one, accepted my portfolio on recommendation from the department secretary. I struggled for a while, feeling that I had lost my creative spark because my marks weren’t aligning with the creative ability I knew I had. So I really had to self-reflect on who I was as a creative and what I actually wanted to contribute to the world and design. All of that really came together after I completed Le Gabriel in Kinshasa, DRC and I wanted to see the same design industry we have in South Africa flourishing in my home country and then the continent at large. Of course we’re so influenced by the west particularly in the built environment, and I considered that as our infrastructure continues to develop, would we be building for us or replicating design that wasn’t made with us as Africans in mind in the first place. That’s where my philosophy really found its legs.

Africans Column: Your mother’s entrepreneurial journey in the beauty industry seems to have been a powerful influence. What lessons did you take from her resilience and creativity that you now apply in building Shumukh Design?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: First, that it is possible and acceptable to start your own business. That might sound strange because of course nobody is stopping you, but it is still outside the mould to start your own business no matter the industry but design and construction? No way! Second, that you need to show up everyday for what you want and grow continuously. My mom has been working for herself for as long as I can remember but she’s always buying the latest products and trying out the latest technologies. She never stops evolving, that’s something I pull into my business, whether its new ways to put together proposals, reach out to clients or faster ways to use software. I’m always evolving.

Africans Column: What was the defining moment that led you to found Shumukh Design in 2022, and what values or vision did you want to bring to life through this venture?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: Being a ‘foreigner’ comes with its own set of challenges, I worked while I was in university and thinking about the application process and the walls put up around foreign nationals to get employment, I figured rather than fight for the few scarce jobs where I’m already at a disadvantage, why not create jobs instead. Plus I felt I was young and had nothing to lose, even if I failed, it would be easy to pick myself up and try again, I’m still in my parent’s house lol. So I went for it and haven’t looked back since.

Africans Column: The name “Shumukh,” meaning “deserving of the highest,” is both bold and inspiring. How does this philosophy guide your design approach and shape the way you engage with clients?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: I’m always striving to give my best, I don’t want to leave any regrets especially in the creation of space because once it’s done it lives on without you and has to stand on its own. The way I think about design, specifically interior design is that more than the aesthetics, its main purpose is to serve the highest form of human existence, we spend so much of our lives in space, the space should be worth it and not only that it should add to and facilitate that lived experience. With clients, more often than not its about the end result, so making sure that they are able to experience that ‘highest’ from consultation to handover and long after.

Africans Column: Shumukh Design emphasizes going “beyond aesthetics.” Can you elaborate on what this means for you? What kind of feeling or experience do you want people to have when they walk into one of your spaces?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: Each space should have its story, of course as designers we have our signatures, mine is brass detailing and the use of various textures, of course I want them to think the space is beautiful but more than that, that everything works and works well. That the layout is comfortable and makes sense, that the furniture doesn’t just match the design but is ergonomic. I hope people feel considered first and foremost and then depending on the space and its location, that they feel connected to the story or at the very least interested to know more.

Africans Column: Your work is often described as a fusion of contemporary sophistication and African creativity. Could you share a project that best reflects this balance and what made it stand out for you?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: Not a project, but my exhibition at Decorex South Africa 2025, is the most aligned with what I want Shumukh to represent that African design can be commercial and aesthetic without feeling cliche or ‘lodgy’. I was showcasing a student accommodation space and the focal point was the wallpaper, inspired by Congolese Kuba cloth and reimagined to feel modern and universally approachable. I loved seeing people be completely attracted by the wallpaper and comment on how they would have never considered student accommodation to look ‘African’ and still make sense. There was no client expectation just the Shumukh Design vision and evidence that that fusion can be done.

Africans Column: Your designs highlight texture, color, and cultural storytelling. Do you have a particular creative process or ritual when starting a new project—perhaps a mood board, a color palette, or a narrative you want to express?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: I do extensive research on the country, region or client depending on the project and first formulate a concept story. This anchors the design and directs every decision made on the project. One standout project for me was unfortunately conceptual, a university assignment, a boutique hotel in Peru, I called it INTI, after the Incan Sun God, that then led to using curves in the space, from the facade, to the shape of the rooms and custom furniture, why? Because the sun is round haha. I used the Incan Quipu – string with knots used for counting and record keeping – as privacy screens and their textiles for my upholstery. It was modern and yet still culturally and historically relevant to its location. It’s the perfect project that illustrates the way design is developed in my mind. I hope INTI can one day become a reality.

Africans Column: Collaboration plays a central role in your practice, from artisans to architects. How do you lead your team to ensure the final design is cohesive and true to your vision while incorporating everyone’s expertise?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: I’m very hands on, I see the work as an extension of myself but I realise that I can’t do everything by myself and it comes together so much more beautifully when you’re able to bring in other people’s expertise. Like a delicious beef stew, everyone is a key ingredient for that final meal to really shine.

Africans Column: Redefining luxury in an African context is central to your mission. What does “luxury” mean to you, and how do you make sure your projects remain authentic to African identity while appealing to a global audience?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: Luxury for me is definitely in the detail and craftsmanship. It’s not about doing too much but doing the important things well. African design is all about that, so in my opinion, African design is luxury. We look at the Kente cloth of Ghana, Tuareg Jewelry of the Niger/Mali people and the Ndebele house painting of South Africa. Charles Eames said, “ the details are not the details, its the design” and when we’re talking about details, African design is all about it. When thinking of the global audience, my merging has more to do with how we already live with western design in our day-to-day more than trying to speak to their perspective. The ideal would be that African people love African things and everyone else is a happy addition.

Africans Column: Building Shumukh Design across South Africa and the DRC must have come with challenges. What were some of the biggest hurdles you faced in establishing your presence, and how did you overcome them?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: This year has been big in terms of getting the name Shumukh Design out into the world, I’ve had the privilege of being on several esteemed media platforms and speaking engagements in 2025, including African Columns, where I was profiled as an African to watch contributing to design and architecture on the continent; Lioness of Africa, profiling my journey as an emerging African entrepreneur and designer; To Build Magazine, highlighting Shumukh Design’s African-inspired architecture; and Afrimaxx on DW my first international TV interview and Africa Radio, where I shared perspectives on creativity, design, and infrastructure. I also participated in Decorex South Africa, one of the continent’s premier design exhibitions, and served as a speaker and panelist at the Architecture South Africa Conference. Additionally, I will be speaking at TEDx University of Pretoria and TEDx University of Johannesburg, presenting ideas on African design, infrastructure, and the contrast between African and Western approaches to building cities that truly belong.

I believe this reach both locally and internationally will compound into the right opportunities for Shumukh Design.

Africans Column: Looking to the future, you’ve mentioned expanding Shumukh Design’s footprint across Africa and reshaping global perceptions of African design. Can you share a dream project or goal that captures this ambition?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: I’d love to contribute to hotels, lodges and resorts across the continent. These spaces are how people outside of Africa experience our culture and hospitality, the dream would be to be able to contribute to that narrative. More long term, I want to contribute to the conversation of how we build on the continent, how our infrastructure development can be a reflection of the African perspective. Building an Africa that is beautifully and deeply African.

Africans Column: Finally, as a trailblazing woman in design and entrepreneurship, what message or advice would you share with young women who have a dream but are afraid to take the first step?

Adonia Mankou Yanate: I would tell young women that the first step is often the hardest, but it is also the most powerful. Your ideas, perspective, and creativity have value, even if the path isn’t fully clear yet. Believe in your ability to navigate challenges, embrace opportunities to learn, and take action even when it feels uncomfortable. Surround yourself with people who inspire and support you, and remember, fear is not about your ability, its about not knowing what’s on the other side, once you take the step, the path becomes clear.

Conclusion
Adonia Mankou Yanate is reshaping how African design is seen, valued, and experienced. Through Shumukh Design, she is proving that interior spaces can embody cultural authenticity while maintaining universal appeal, offering more than beauty—they tell stories, honor heritage, and enhance human experience. Her journey from overcoming academic setbacks to founding a thriving studio is a testament to resilience and vision, serving as inspiration for young women and creatives across the continent. In celebrating detail, narrative, and identity, Adonia is not only designing interiors but also helping to build a future where Africa’s design voice is both unapologetic and globally influential.