Angaza is Swahili for “illuminate.” Angaza Design seeks to bring better quality light to the developing world, starting in East Africa where Swahili evolved and moving beyond.
“Better” light is what we enjoy every day in the Western world: clean, safe, bright light that shines whenever we flip a switch on the wall. We look forward to the day when everyone has this opportunity and shifts away from the flickering, sooty, dangerous light of kerosene and paraffin lamps.
Curiously, “angaza” is also a modified form of the verb “-anga,” which means “to look.” With the -za suffix it gains the meaning “to fixate” or “to stare.” Fixated on improving the quality of the world’s light, we recognize and enjoy the double entendre.