Kanga (Museum Accession Number R6060/17)
This pair of unseparated kangas was made in Mombasa, Kenya from machine-printed cotton in 2017. 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 head covering. They usually feature a slogan which is used to make a statement, whether personal or political. This design celebrates Ramadan, with the slogan translating as ‘Welcome holy month of Ramadan’. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project.
Creator: Kaderdina Hajee Essak Limited
Place: Kenya, East Africa, Africa
Date: 2017