This is one of a pair of Kangas from Kenya, East Africa, made from machine-printed cotton in the 1980s. The design features indigo spots and a green and yellow feather-like motif. Traditional kanga designs 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 ‘Not scared of facing a challenge’. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project.
Creator: Rivatex
Place: Kenya, East Africa, Africa
Date: 1980s