Khanga Dress-Do u know the Use of Khanga Dress?

 

Communication through Kangas

Kanga (sometimes known as khanga or leso) is a colorful popular garment worn by women and occasionally by men throughout Eastern Africa. It is a piece of printed cotton fabric, often with a border along all four sides (called pindo in Swahili), a central part (mji) which differs in design from the borders and the writing (jina or ujumbe). The mji and jina are two features that usually give the kanga its local name, popularity and meaning. Kangas are usually rectangular in shape, each with their own ‘name’ or slogan written in the Kiswahili language in the same position in every design printed in a variety of designs and colors. Kangas are artifacts of the Swahili culture and as such are designed with a lot of care to appeal to its users. Kangas are sold in matching pairs- called “doti” and are mainly worn by women as a shawl or headdress. Men are allowed only to use kangas inside the house.

Kanga as a Means of Communication

Apart from its protective and decorative role, kangas are all about communicating the message. The writing that are printed on the kanga is usually of central significance and it is the one that makes people buy the kanga. Messages are often in the form of riddles, saying, aphorisms, metaphors, a poetic phrase or proverbs. It is important to note that most writings use proverbs than other phrases. Over the years kangas, because of their dominance of fashion industry in East Africa, have become a valuable medium of expressing personal, political, social and religious ideas and aspirations in Eastern Africa.