R6060/10 Textile; Kanga; Wrap

Kanga with a green, yellow and blur floral border, with a map of Africa in the centre in a yellow circle.

Kanga (Museum Accession Number R6060/10)

This kanga was made in Kenya from machine printed cotton in the late 1980s. The design features a map of Africa with Kenya highlighted in green. 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 as ‘Welcome guest’. This design became the unofficial kanga of the 1987 All Africa Games. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project.

Creator: unknown

Place: Kenya, East Africa, Africa

Date: 1980s