Swahili Kanga

Kangas are brightly patterned cotton cloths worn by women across East Africa. Each kanga follows a traditional design structure, including a border of repeating motifs, a central motif, and the proverb printed along the bottom. The proverb is what makes kangas so distinctive—transforming each one into a conversation. They are exchanged at weddings, used to mark milestones, or to send subtle messages of wisdom, humor, or love within the community.

In my work, I reimagine the kanga for the home. I select Swahili proverbs with particularly powerful meanings in domestic spaces. I find the cyanotype blue and white aligns appropriately situates these textiles within their East African coastal origins, while creating something new. I love that these pieces are both visual and litteral.