A simplified illustration of a kanga. (1) pindo; (2) mji; (3) jina. The jina of this kanga is Bahati ni upepo sasa upo kwangu, which can be translated as "Luck is like the (blowing of the) wind, now it is on my side"

The kanga (sometimes kanga, meaning "guinea hen" in Swahili, for its brilliant colors) is a colourful garment similar to kitenge, worn by women and occasionally by men throughout Eastern Africa. It is a piece of printed cotton fabric, about 1.5m by 1m, often with a border along all four sides (called pindo in Swahili), and a central part (mji) which differs in design from the borders. Khangas are usually very colorful.

[edit] Origins

Kangas drying on a line in Paje, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Khangas were inspired by Portuguese traders' "lenço" (handkerchief), which still also serves as an alternate name for the garment. The Indian traders in Mombasa and Zanzibar used to cut up rolls of scarves in the size of a Kanga, and it seems that they got the idea of having designs made in this size. The first Khangas would have been without any writing, but it is thought that the words may have been added to the design around 1910. Khangas are sometimes referred to in East Africa.^[1] The khanga was in the past confined to coastal communities (e.g. Zanzibar). Nowadays, the kanga is worn throughout Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Madagascar also has Khangas, with the writing in the Malagasy language.

[edit] Communication vehicle

A woman wearing kanga in Siyu on Pate Island, north of Kenya.

One of the longer edges of the mji features a strip which contains a message in Swahili, or less commonly in Arabic or Comorian. Other countries which produce their own Kangas write the Kanga messages/names in their main languages: in Madagascar (Malagasy Republic) they are written in Malagasy; they are also produced in Zambia and Malawi. This message is called the jina (literally 'name') of the kanga. Messages are often in the form of riddles or proverbs. Some examples:

• Wema hauozi — Kindness is never wasted^{[citation needed]}
• Kawia ufike — Better late than never^{[citation needed]}
• Riziki Ya Mtu Hupangwa Na Mungu — One's fortunes are planned by God^{[citation needed]}
• Mimi Na Wangu Wewe Na Wako Chuki Ya Nini — I have mine and you have yours -- why the fuss?^{[citation needed]}
• Sisi Sote Abiria Dereva Ni Mungu — In this world we are all passengers, God is the driver^{[citation needed]}
• Fimbo La Mnyonge Halina Nguvu — Might is right^[2]
• Liya Na Tabia Yako Usilaumu Wenzako — Do not blame others for problems you have created yourself^{[citation needed]}
• Naogopa Simba Na Meno Yake, Siogopi Mtu Kwa Maneno Yake — I fear the lion for its jaws, I do not fear man for his words^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Kitenge

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Beck, Rose-Marie (2001). 'Ambiguous signs: the role of the 'kanga' as a medium of communication', Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere, 68, 157-169.
• Erie Art Museum. "Kanga & Kitenge: Cloth and Culture in East Africa"
• Hanby, Jeanette & David Bygott, (2006) 'Kangas - 101 Uses', HariaStamp Publishers, ISBN: 9966-7146-0-X
• Hongoke, Christine J. (1993) The effects of Khanga inscription as a communication vehicle in Tanzania, Research report, 19. Dar es Salaam: Women's Research and Documentation Project.
• Linnebuhr, E. (1992) 'Kanga: popular cloths with messages', in Werner Graebner (ed.) Sokomoko: Popular Culture in East Africa (Matatu vol. 9). Rodopi, 81-90.
• Parkin, David (2004) 'Textile as commodity, dress as text: Swahili kanga and women's statements', in Ruth Barnes (ed.) Textiles in Indian Ocean Societies. London/New York: Routledge, 47-67.
• Yahya-Othman, Saida (1997) 'If the cap fits: 'kanga' names and women's voice in Swahili society', Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere, 51, 135-149.

[edit] External links

• Kanga pictures
• Kanga writings