Kanga cloth design

Assemble a kanga: pick border, central motif and a short Swahili saying printed along the bottom, matching pattern pieces to a given mood or occasion.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Kenya. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of Africa: Great Lakes and Indian Ocean.