181:(indicative of the place it originated). Male slaves wrapped it around their waist and female slaves wrapped it under their armpits. To make the cloth more feminine, slave women occasionally dyed them black or dark blue, using locally obtained indigo. This dyed merikani was referred to as kaniki. People despised kaniki due to its association with slavery. Ex-slave women seeking to become part of the Swahili society began to decorate their merikani clothes. They did this using one of three techniques; a form of resist dying, a form of block printing or hand painting. After slavery was abolished in 1897, Kangas began to be used for self-empowerment and to indicate that the wearer had personal wealth.
483:
322:
52:
497:
966:
463:
392:(literally 'name') of the kanga. Messages are often in the form of riddles or proverbs. When giving a kanga as a gift, one must be mindful of the proverb, as they can be somewhat insulting. Occasionally, one of these is given as a gift at a wedding to express a person's opinion that the couple should not be married. However, most of the messages express kind sentiments and good wishes. Some examples of proverbs:
279:
227:
135:
68:
470:
Kanga can also be used to send political messages, mostly used during the campaign time Women will wear a specific Kanga to communicate a non-verbal message to their community. This form of communication, often between women can be about personal feeling, relationship, political, education. health or
303:
is a more formal fabric used for nice clothing, the kanga is much more than a clothing piece, it can be used as a skirt, head-wrap, apron, pot-holder, towel, and much more. The kanga is culturally significant on
Eastern coast of Africa, often given as a gift for birthdays or other special occasions.
234:
In the early 1900s, proverbs, sayings, aphorisms and slogans were added to kangas. A trader in
Mombasa, Kaderdina Hajee Essak, also known as "Abdulla", began to distinguish his kangas with the mark "K.H.E. - Mali ya Abdulla", to which he often added a proverb in Swahili. Initially they were printed
286:
There are many different ways to wear kangas. One traditional way of wearing the kanga is to wrap one piece as a shawl, to cover the head and shoulders, and another piece wrapped around the waist. Kangas are also used as baby carriers. It can also be used by women for the
Swahili traditional dance
308:
which are traditionally worn by men. The
Kishutu is one of the earliest known designs, probably named after a town in Tanzania, they are particular given to young brides as part of their dowry or by healers to cast off evil spirits. Due to its ritual function they do not always include a proverb.
217:
Until the mid-twentieth century, they were mostly designed and printed in India, the Far East and Europe. Since the 1950s kangas started to be printed also in the city of
Morogoro in Tanzania (MeTL Group Textile Company) and Kenya (Rivatex and Thika Cloth Mills Ltd are some of the largest
312:
The earliest pattern of the kanga was patterned with small dots or speckles, which look like the plumage of the guinea hen, also called "kanga" in
Swahili. This is where the name comes from, contrary to the belief that it comes from a Swahili verb for to close.
304:
They are also given to mourning families in
Tanzania after the loss of a family member as part of a michengo (or collection) into which many community members put a bit of money to support the family in their grief. Kangas are also similar to Kishutu and
1005:
201:, started to use them stitching together six kerchiefs in a 3X2 pattern to create one large rectangular wrap. Soon they became popular in the whole coastal region, later expanding inland to the Great Lakes region. They are still known as
1002:
799:
Anyone wearing a kanga with the proverb Fimbo La
Mnyonge Halina Nguvu" (Might is Right) may know something about the darker side of the garment's journey from the coast into the interior.
746:
902:
783:
943:
891:
17:
166:
According to some sources, it was developed from a type of unbleached cotton cloth imported from the US. The cloth was known as
822:
126:) which differs in design from the borders. They are sold in pairs, which can then be cut and hemmed to be used as a set.
673:
63:"Do not fill your mind with things that do not concern you" or "Do not get involved in matters that do not concern you"
757:
912:
601:
568:
838:
863:
747:"Alphabetical List of Inscriptions and Their Translations: Kanga & Kitenge: Cloth and Culture in East Africa"
640:
709:
625:
364:. Other countries which produce their own Kangas write the Kanga messages/names in their main languages: in
981:
594:
Pastimes and
Politics : Culture, Community, and Identity in Post-Abolition Urban Zanzibar, 1890-1945
1032:
1047:
356:(the Kiswahili) is featured on a strip which contains a message. It is less commonly written in
31:
1037:
91:, which can be translated as "Luck is like the (blowing of the) wind, now it is on my side"
8:
953:
Kahabi, CM. (2010) Kanga and
Vitenge in Remanufactured Fashion; University of Manchester.
108:
1018:
Kanga information at Center for African Studies University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
971:
1017:
907:
Hanby, Jeanette & David Bygott, (2006) 'Kangas - 101 Uses', HariaStamp Publishers,
561:
Domesticating the world : African consumerism and the genealogies of globalization
924:
Linnebuhr, E. (1992) 'Kanga: popular cloths with messages', in Werner Graebner (ed.)
908:
818:
715:
705:
679:
669:
607:
597:
574:
564:
377:
361:
441:: I'm afraid of a lion with its strong teeth but not a man with his words (lyrics).
244:
38:
1042:
1009:
921:, Research report, 19. Dar es Salaam: Women's Research and Documentation Project.
812:
753:
535:
369:
357:
992:
502:
326:
411:: Even though I have nothing, I have not given up my desire to get what I want
1026:
683:
611:
578:
488:
236:
45:
719:
321:
240:
997:
189:
According to other sources, the origin is in the kerchief squares called
155:
143:
919:
The effects of Khanga inscription as a communication vehicle in Tanzania
51:
892:'Ambiguous signs: the role of the 'kanga' as a medium of communication'
365:
193:
brought by Portuguese traders from India and Arabia. Stylish ladies in
118:, about 1.5 m by 1 m, often with a border along all four sides (called
704:. Becker, Rayda., Barbican Art Gallery. London: Barbican Art Gallery.
247:
are traditional, while in central areas phrases in both Kiswahili and
218:
manufacturers in Kenya) and other countries on the African continent.
944:'If the cap fits: 'kanga' names and women's voice in Swahili society'
373:
175:
107:, but lighter, worn by women and occasionally by men throughout the
931:
Parkin, David (2004) 'Textile as commodity, dress as text: Swahili
702:
The art of African textiles : technology, tradition, and lurex
510:
334:
330:
288:
263:
They are rectangular and always have a border along all four sides.
194:
1003:
Collection of and commentary on 436 sayings on East African cloth
864:"Traditional African Clothing: A Guide To Kanga from East Africa"
641:"Traditional African Clothing: A Guide To Kanga from East Africa"
462:
300:
248:
198:
115:
104:
385:
381:
278:
226:
112:
30:
This article is about the African garment. For other uses, see
668:. Bygott, David. (2nd ed.). Nairobi: Haria's Stamp Shop.
154:
Kangas have been a traditional type of dress amongst women in
305:
147:
134:
171:
139:
260:
Generally Kangas are 150 cm wide by 110 cm long.
44:"Khanga" redirects here. For the Russian journalist, see
67:
903:"Kanga & Kitenge: Cloth and Culture in East Africa"
269:
Most modern kangas bear a saying, usually in Kiswahili.
439:
Naogopa simba na meno yake siogopi mtu kwa maneno yake
429:: Might is right. (lit. "the weak stick has no power")
417:: Parents are gold; to take care of them is a blessing
243:. Towards the eastern part of the region, phrases in
478:
433:
Mwanamke mazingira tuanataka, usawa, amani, maendelo
447:: Today is a day for celebrations and ululations.
1024:
453:: One who only looks at the sea is not a sailor.
405:: Everything is all right if you love each other
435:: We (women) want equality, peace, and progress
209:in some localities, after the Portuguese word.
935:and women's statements', in Ruth Barnes (ed.)
741:
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
340:Typically, kangas consist of three parts: The
784:"Kangalicious: Let your dress do the talking"
563:. Berkeley: University of California Press.
368:(Malagasy Republic) where they are known as
726:
663:
423:: We are all passengers, God is the driver
810:
27:Printed cotton fabric worn in East Africa
926:Sokomoko: Popular Culture in East Africa
461:
320:
316:
277:
225:
133:
71:A simplified illustration of kanga. (1)
66:
50:
558:
14:
1025:
861:
781:
638:
591:
415:Wazazi ni dhahabu kuwatunza ni thawabu
699:
273:
939:. London/New York: Routledge, 47–67.
695:
693:
530:
528:
526:
457:
445:Leo ni siku ya shangwe na vigelegele
782:Howden, Daniel (14 November 2009).
266:Often kangas have a central symbol.
103:) is a colourful fabric similar to
61:Usijaze masusu kwa mambo yasokusuhu
24:
937:Textiles in Indian Ocean Societies
376:, traditional proverbs written in
25:
1059:
957:
811:Hoffelder, Timothy (2017-12-20).
690:
626:"KHE Kanga in the British Museum"
596:. Athens: Ohio University Press.
523:
122:in Swahili), and a central part (
111:region. It is a piece of printed
964:
495:
481:
421:Sisi sote abiria dereva ni Mungu
928:(Matatu vol. 9). Rodopi, 81–90.
855:
831:
804:
466:Former USA President on a Kanga
89:Bahati ni upepo sasa upo kwangu
948:Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere
896:Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere
775:
657:
632:
618:
585:
552:
388:. This message is called the
212:
13:
1:
917:Hongoke, Christine J. (1993)
884:
427:Fimbo La Mnyonge Halina Nguvu
294:
254:
41:, a small comb used by Sikhs.
839:"Kanga: A Cloth That Unites"
559:Jeremy., Prestholdt (2008).
451:Mchungulia bahari si msafiri
380:; they are also produced in
37:Not to be confused with the
7:
942:Yahya-Othman, Saida (1997)
862:Masawe, Sian (2018-03-02).
639:Masawe, Sian (2018-03-02).
474:
325:Kangas drying on a line in
221:
161:
55:Kanga (Tanzania, 2011) The
10:
1064:
664:Jeannette., Hanby (2008).
403:Mkipendana mambo huwa sawa
129:
43:
36:
29:
890:Beck, Rose-Marie (2001).
843:Google Arts & Culture
817:. Windy City Publishers.
814:Who Only Looks at the Sea
184:
138:A woman wearing kanga in
516:
409:Japo sipati tamaa sikati
158:since the 19th century.
99:(in some areas known as
399:: Greed is never useful
170:in Zanzibar, a Swahili
18:Kanga (African garment)
700:John., Picton (1995).
467:
337:
283:
231:
151:
92:
64:
592:Laura., Fair (2001).
465:
324:
317:Communication vehicle
281:
229:
137:
70:
54:
344:(wide border), the
109:African Great Lakes
1008:2019-06-27 at the
468:
338:
284:
274:Kanga Wear Designs
232:
152:
93:
65:
901:Erie Art Museum.
824:978-1-941478-58-5
458:Political Vehicle
348:(central motif),
282:Kanga wear design
174:derived from the
87:of this kanga is
59:of this kanga is
16:(Redirected from
1055:
1033:African clothing
1014:
968:
967:
878:
877:
875:
874:
859:
853:
852:
850:
849:
835:
829:
828:
808:
802:
801:
796:
794:
779:
773:
772:
770:
768:
762:
756:. Archived from
751:
743:
724:
723:
697:
688:
687:
666:Kangas, 101 uses
661:
655:
654:
652:
651:
636:
630:
629:
622:
616:
615:
589:
583:
582:
556:
550:
549:
547:
546:
532:
505:
500:
499:
498:
491:
486:
485:
484:
397:Majivuno hayafai
21:
1063:
1062:
1058:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1053:
1052:
1048:Swahili culture
1023:
1022:
1012:
1010:Wayback Machine
989:
988:
987:
982:Kanga (garment)
969:
965:
960:
887:
882:
881:
872:
870:
860:
856:
847:
845:
837:
836:
832:
825:
809:
805:
792:
790:
788:The Independent
780:
776:
766:
764:
763:on 3 March 2016
760:
754:Erie Art Museum
749:
745:
744:
727:
712:
698:
691:
676:
662:
658:
649:
647:
637:
633:
624:
623:
619:
604:
590:
586:
571:
557:
553:
544:
542:
536:"Kanga history"
534:
533:
524:
519:
501:
496:
494:
487:
482:
480:
477:
460:
372:, they feature
319:
297:
276:
257:
239:, and later in
230:Swahili Proverb
224:
215:
187:
164:
132:
49:
42:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1061:
1051:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1021:
1020:
1015:
1000:
998:Kanga writings
995:
993:Kanga pictures
970:
963:
962:
961:
959:
958:External links
956:
955:
954:
951:
950:, 51, 135–149.
940:
929:
922:
915:
905:
899:
898:, 68, 157–169.
886:
883:
880:
879:
854:
830:
823:
803:
774:
725:
710:
689:
675:978-9966714602
674:
656:
631:
617:
602:
584:
569:
551:
521:
520:
518:
515:
514:
513:
507:
506:
503:Fashion portal
492:
476:
473:
459:
456:
455:
454:
448:
442:
436:
430:
424:
418:
412:
406:
400:
318:
315:
296:
293:
275:
272:
271:
270:
267:
264:
261:
256:
253:
251:are popular.
223:
220:
214:
211:
186:
183:
163:
160:
131:
128:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1060:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1030:
1028:
1019:
1016:
1011:
1007:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
990:
985:
984:
983:
977:
973:
952:
949:
945:
941:
938:
934:
930:
927:
923:
920:
916:
914:
913:9966-7146-0-X
910:
906:
904:
900:
897:
893:
889:
888:
869:
868:Kitenge Store
865:
858:
844:
840:
834:
826:
820:
816:
815:
807:
800:
789:
785:
778:
759:
755:
748:
742:
740:
738:
736:
734:
732:
730:
721:
717:
713:
707:
703:
696:
694:
685:
681:
677:
671:
667:
660:
646:
645:Kitenge Store
642:
635:
627:
621:
613:
609:
605:
603:9780821413845
599:
595:
588:
580:
576:
572:
570:9780520254237
566:
562:
555:
541:
540:www.glcom.com
537:
531:
529:
527:
522:
512:
509:
508:
504:
493:
490:
489:Africa portal
479:
472:
464:
452:
449:
446:
443:
440:
437:
434:
431:
428:
425:
422:
419:
416:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
395:
394:
393:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
336:
332:
328:
323:
314:
310:
307:
302:
292:
290:
280:
268:
265:
262:
259:
258:
252:
250:
246:
242:
241:Roman letters
238:
237:Arabic script
228:
219:
210:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
182:
180:
177:
173:
169:
159:
157:
149:
145:
141:
136:
127:
125:
121:
117:
114:
110:
106:
102:
98:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
69:
62:
58:
53:
47:
46:Yelena Khanga
40:
33:
19:
1013:(in English)
980:
979:
978:profile for
975:
947:
936:
932:
925:
918:
895:
871:. Retrieved
867:
857:
846:. Retrieved
842:
833:
813:
806:
798:
791:. Retrieved
787:
777:
765:. Retrieved
758:the original
701:
665:
659:
648:. Retrieved
644:
634:
620:
593:
587:
560:
554:
543:. Retrieved
539:
469:
450:
444:
438:
432:
426:
420:
414:
408:
402:
396:
389:
353:
349:
345:
341:
339:
311:
298:
285:
233:
216:
206:
202:
190:
188:
178:
167:
165:
153:
123:
119:
100:
96:
94:
88:
84:
80:
76:
72:
60:
56:
1038:East Africa
793:14 November
213:Manufacture
156:East Africa
144:Pate Island
1027:Categories
885:References
873:2024-04-25
848:2024-04-22
767:5 December
711:0853316821
650:2024-04-22
545:2017-07-30
366:Madagascar
295:Kanga Uses
255:Appearance
684:754104822
612:649929751
579:499452328
471:religion
374:ohabolana
245:Kiswahili
176:adjective
1006:Archived
720:34052769
511:Capulana
475:See also
378:Malagasy
362:Comorian
335:Tanzania
331:Zanzibar
299:Whereas
289:chakacha
222:Proverbs
195:Zanzibar
179:American
168:merikani
162:Merikani
972:Scholia
301:kitenge
249:Lingala
199:Mombasa
130:Origins
105:kitenge
1043:Skirts
974:has a
911:
821:
718:
708:
682:
672:
610:
600:
577:
567:
386:Malawi
382:Zambia
370:lambas
358:Arabic
350:Ujumbe
291:.
207:lessos
191:lencos
185:Lenços
116:fabric
113:cotton
83:. The
79:; (3)
75:; (2)
39:Kangha
976:topic
933:kanga
761:(PDF)
750:(PDF)
517:Notes
342:pindo
306:Kikoy
203:lesos
148:Kenya
120:pindo
97:kanga
73:pindo
32:Kanga
909:ISBN
819:ISBN
795:2009
769:2021
716:OCLC
706:ISBN
680:OCLC
670:ISBN
608:OCLC
598:ISBN
575:OCLC
565:ISBN
390:jina
384:and
354:jina
327:Paje
197:and
172:noun
140:Siyu
101:leso
95:The
85:jina
81:jina
57:jina
360:or
352:or
346:mji
235:in
205:or
142:on
124:mji
77:mji
1029::
946:,
894:,
866:.
841:.
797:.
786:.
752:.
728:^
714:.
692:^
678:.
643:.
606:.
573:.
538:.
525:^
333:,
329:,
146:,
986:.
876:.
851:.
827:.
771:.
722:.
686:.
653:.
628:.
614:.
581:.
548:.
150:.
48:.
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
