The African kanga is a very colorful wrap that can be used in many ways. Although it is mostly worn by women, men too wear the kanga with style, particularly in Africa. The African kanga is usually about a meter and a half in length and about a meter in wide. It is usually made of pure cotton and is very easy to wash. The most notable feature of the African kanga is the ‘proverb’ or ‘wise saying’ that is printed at the bottom.
What is the African Kanga?
It is the traditional dress of central and east African women and the sayings, called ‘ujumbe’ in Swahili printed on the kanga are usually in their local dialect. ‘Asante kwa wema wako’ (‘thanks for your kindness’), ‘Ukom ti mungu utarate baraka tele’ (‘if you pray to God you will be blessed) and ‘Ee mungu nesutery na ubaya wao’ (‘God protect me from my enemies’) are some of the common sayings that are inscribed on the Tanzanian kanga.
The four borders of the African kanga, called ‘pingo’, are usually quite different from the center portion, which has a bold design and color. The central design, called ‘mji’, usually depicts nature, signs of fertility, fruits, animals, birds or even popular singers and football heroes. Many believe that the ‘mji’ of the kanga could convey anything about the wearer from being a person of good upbringing to sending out a warning sign!
African Kanga Origins
The origins of the African kanga can be traced back to Portuguese traders in East Africa who traded in colorful handkerchiefs. African women who took a fancy to these handkerchiefs, sewed together six handkerchiefs to make it into a colorful rectangular ‘sarong’. Its popularity grew with time and soon it was designed as one single piece of cloth and called ‘Kanga’. This name comes from the guinea fowl as it bears a striking resemblance to its colorful plumage.
An interesting fact about the African Kanga is that it was designed and created far away from Africa, in European and Asian countries like India, China, and Japan for hundreds of years. It is only the mid twentieth century that saw the manufacture of the African kanga on African soil, with Tanzania and Kenya leading its production.
The African kanga is designed to cover you from just over the chest to just below your knees, or from the waist all the way down to your toes. The things you can do with this wonderful rectangular piece of cloth is virtually endless!
How to wear the African Kanga
So how do you wear the African kanga? Well that depends on what you plan to do that day!
If you are heading out to fetch water for your house, which is common in African villages, then you twist the kanga lengthwise into a tight rope and twist it again into a roll and place it on your head. You will be amazed at the ease at which you can carry a full bucket of water balanced on the top of your head with the African kanga in place!
Or if that is too far-fetched, maybe you plan to go to the supermarket with your little one in tow. Just place your baby on your back and wrap your African kanga around the baby and yourself. Bring one end of the kanga over one shoulder and the other end around the waist on the other side. Make sure the kanga is securely wrapped leaving his face and legs free but tight against your waist. You could leave his hands out or leave them hugging you tight, inside the kanga, around your chest. Now doesn’t that paint a cozy picture?
If you live in a cold place and could do with some extra warmth, you could wrap the African kanga casually around your neck like a shawl. It sure adds a touch of mystery to your wardrobe, what with the African inscription on it and the riotous colors.
And if you’d like to add some color to your Sunday best, you can reach for your African kanga again! Take two ends of the kanga and tie them on top of one shoulder pulling it tight under the other shoulder while making sure it covers your chest. You can be sure you will make a few heads turn!
Other Usage of the African Kanga
Having read so much about the African kanga, it shouldn’t surprise you that you can actually wear it on your head too! Yes, the African kanga turns into a scarf with a few folds! Grab two ends of the same side of the kanga and repeatedly fold in half until it is about 4 inches wide. Then you place it just above your forehead and tightly pull both sides together at the back of your head. Knot it once and pull the rest of the kanga onto either side of your neck and allow it to flow over your chest. Makes a classy designer head wrap, doesn’t it?
How about wearing it to the beach? The African kanga plays a dual role at the beach: one of a sarong that you could drape around your waist and the other of a wrap just over your breasts. Knot it tight to one side and you have the perfect accessory to your swimsuit.
And if you are planning a trip to Africa, make sure the African kanga is a big part of your wardrobe. A woman wearing the kanga is treated with a lot of respect and is greeted very warmly. Sticking to your shorts and jeans will not get you very far. You will be looked on and treated as the tourist that you are. So if you want a real glimpse of African households, their life and culture, make sure you stay wrapped in an African kanga throughout your stay there.
The African kanga is also very popular as a gift. To make a really good impression on an African family, all you need to do is present them with kangas. It is said that they can never have enough of this particular garment!
If you, by some quirk of fate, get married in Zanzibar, you can expect to be wrapped in an African kanga as it is also an essential wedding garment in that part of the world.
The kanga is constantly evolving and newer designs and newer sayings are added to its repertoire. If you are ever faced with an opportunity to pick up the African kanga, don’t hesitate to grab it!