Today I wanted to talk about this beautiful African garment called KANGA. Kanga means “guinea hen” in Swahili for its brilliant colors. Kanga is a colourful garment worn by women and occasionally by men throughout Eastern Africa. It is a piece of printed cotton fabric, about 1.5m by 1m, (as long as the span of your outstreched arms and wide enough to cover you from neck to knee,or from breast to toe)often with a border along all four sides (called pindo in Swahili), and a central part (mji) which differs in design from the borders. Khangas are usually very colorful ,printed in bold designs and bright colours and most of them do have Swahili sayings printed on them .Kangas are usually bought and worn as a pair – called a “doti”.
Apart from its protective and decorative role, kanga is all about sending the message. It is the equivalent of the get well, greetings, or congratulations cards in the western culture but in this case the message goes a little bit beyond the normal meaning. For example, a fruit, a flower, a boat, or a bird could mean good upbringing or just the appreciation of beauty. On the other hand, a lion, a shark, or any such kind of dangerous animals could signal the sense of danger or a clear warning.
Kangas are the perfect gift. Husbands give kangas to wives. children to their mothers, a woman may split a pair to give half to her best friend. Men can sleep in kangas, and often wear them around the house; women wear them everywhere; babies are virtually born into them, and are usually carried in a soft sling of kanga cloth. Kangas are extremely popular throughout East Africa not only for clothing but for their multiple uses; no-one can ever have too many!
Says Welcome Pres. Bush To Tanzania
It says Congratulation Barack Obama
Kanga has also been used to mobilize people in political rallies,public health campaigns as well as creating awareness to particular development projects. When words are difficult to articulate with a mouth, inscribe them on kanga and wait for the results. Although cheap in price, the power of kanga in the Swahili culture is unimaginable.
These are some of the Swahili sayings found in Kanga
- Wema hauozi — Kindness is never wasted
- Kawia ufike — Better late than never
- Riziki Ya Mtu Hupangwa Na Mungu — One’s fortunes are planned by God
- Mimi Na Wangu Wewe Na Wako Chuki Ya Nini — I have mine and you have yours — why the fuss?
- Sisi Sote Abiria Dereva Ni Mungu — In this world we are all passengers, God is the driver.
- Fimbo La Mnyonge Halina Nguvu — Might is right.
- Liya Na Tabia Yako Usilaumu Wenzako — Do not blame others for problems you have created yourself.
- Naogopa Simba Na Meno Yake, Siogopi Mtu Kwa Maneno Yake — I fear the lion for its jaws, I do not fear man for his word….
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