Kanga (Museum Accession Number R6045/6)
This is a Kanga from Kenya, East Africa, made from machine-printed cotton in the 1980s. The design features blue and yellow gourds and a yellow leaf motif. The centre panel depicts a kora – a harp-like stringed instrument from Western Africa. Kangas are bought in pairs and worn as an outfit with one wrapped as a skirt and one as a top, shawl or headcovering. They usually feature a slogan which is used to make a statement, whether personal or political. The slogan on this kanga translates to ‘Preserve our culture’. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project.
Creator: Rivatex
Place: Kenya, East Africa, Africa
Date: 1980s