T A L K I N G   F A B R I C S

Colorful Kanga (pic: www.tdsblog.com) 

Kanga is Kiswahili for guinea fowl. It became the name of the fabric for in the earliest versions, its pattern of dots resembled the plumage of the colourful guinea fowl. The origin of Kanga dates back to 1880s in Zanzibar and Mombassa on the east coast of Africa which were major trading ports. 

Quotes on Kanga (pic: https://eastofafrica.com.au/product-category/kangas/)

Here, the Muslim women would buy printed bandanas from the Portugues traders, sew them together and use this cloth to wrap themselves. 

Paisleys inspired by Indian (pic: https://eastofafrica.com.au/product-category/kangas/)

Over the years, the prints on the fabrics have influences from Indian, Omani, Persian, Indonesian batik and African cultures.   

Bags (pic courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/canvasandkangas/ )

Some traders saw a business opportunity in this and started producing designs which were stamped onto a cloth with carved wooden blocks. Later Kangas were produced in factories in India, China and Japan and only around the 1960s were factories set up in Kenya and Tanzania for the same.

Fabric jewelry (pic: https://kccprogramme.org/)

Kangas are sold in identical pairs. The cloth is printed cotton about 45 by 65 inches. One piece covers the head like a shawl and the other is wrapped like a skirt around the waist. There is a pattern which borders on all 4 sides and another one in the body. 

 Bags (pic: https://kenyakangacollection.com/ )

The unique part of the cloth are the sayings written on the border. Kangas are often gifted on special occasions and it is these messages that make them special.

Cushion cover (Pic courtesy: www. knick-knacks.com)

 Women choose their Kangas carefully for wearing one with the right message is their way of communicating with the society. In some ways kangas give a voice to the women

Lampshades in Kanga (pic courtesy: madebymikono.com)

 Kanga is as popular as ever as a piece of clothing but today, they are being put to more contemporary uses like bags, lampshades, cushion covers etc.

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