When I was in London, oh about two plus weeks ago now I went to the British Museum. There was a wonderful (and tiny FWIW) display on Kanga Cloth from Senegal. Called “The Cloth That Speaks” Kanga Cloth is richly colorful, visually varied, prophetic and often funny. It is also wearable art. Embedded images with information, idioms, parables, quotes and quirky suggestions.

I took photos of the mini-movie on Kanga Cloth that we watched at the Museum

Khanga, meaning “guinea hen” in Kiswahili, for its brilliant colors is a colorful garment similar to Kitenge, worn by women and occasionally by men throughout Eastern Africa. It is a piece of printed cotton fabric, about 1,5m by 1m, often with a border along all four sides (called Pindo in Kiswahili, the East African lingua franca), and a central part (Mji) which differs in design from the borders. Kangas are usually very colorful. Wikipedia

I tried to find a book on Kanga Cloth since I am entertaining prospects for writing a paper on embedded information in images to tie into my recent project on QR Codes. I found this one which is apparently out of print? Not so sure. If someone finds a copy please let me know?

“Kanga – The Cloth That Speaks” by Sharifa Zawawi. Azaniya Hills Press in association with AfricaRUs MultiMedia. 2005 ISBN: 0976694107

“A book that tells you the history of kanga and its context in the Swahili culture as well as the global world. From the cradle to the grave: history, culture, language and fashion are inextricably woven in the two rectangular pieces of cloth worn together that form the kanga. Communities around the northern and western peripheries of the Indian Ocean now share its heritage. The kanga cuts across class, religion, gender and generation. All can wear it. More importantly, all can read its message. Kanga messages open an ever widening window on relations, customs and human values among those who wear and those who read.” From Watatu Textil

Kanga Cloth is a fascinating and multi-use and multi-purpose cloth/covering/tool/ cultural icon. Watatu Textil Has a short overview on some of the more interesting purposes of Kanga Cloth.

Everyone should take some time to do further exploration of Kanga Cloth: Swahili Language and Culture site has a great list of images of Kanga and their sayings.