Kanga (Museum Accession Number: R6045/2/1)
This is one of a pair of Kangas from Kenya, East Africa, made from machine-printed cotton in the 1980s. The design features red and green flowers, and its central motif is an encircled map of Africa. The red, green and black spots on this design are inspired by guineafowl, a speckled bird found across sub-Saharan Africa, – ‘kanga’ is the Kiswahili word for guineafoul. 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 ‘Knowledge is wealth’. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project.
Creator: Rivatex
Place: Kenya, East Africa, Africa
Date: 1980s