Kanga Wrapper (1969)
Cultural heritage of Kenya
Kanga wrapper
nairobi, kenya
1969
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design Details
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kanga wrapper
Class: Textile - Woven
Medium: Cotton
Dimensions: W 46 1/4 In. x H. 11 ft. 5/8 In. (117.5 cm × 336.9 cm)
Description: This textile is a kanga, a traditional cotton cloth worn in pairs in East Africa, especially in Kenya and Tanzania. The bold central image and decorative border reflect how kangas combine strong graphic design with symbolic meaning. Beyond clothing, kangas function as cultural storytellers, often used to communicate identity, values, and social messages.
(Source: The MET Website)
Wooden clogs
Class: Shoes
Medium: Wood
Dimensions: W 3 3/4 In. x H. 10 1/5 In. x D 3 1/8 In. (9.5 cm × 26.7 x 9.6 cm)
Description: Carved from solid wood and elevated on thick soles, these clogs protected the wearer’s feet and garments from sand and damp ground while walking through coastal towns. The incised geometric patterns—triangles, linear borders, and repeated motifs—reflect Swahili aesthetic values shaped by Indian Ocean trade networks, blending African, Islamic, Arab, and South Asian influences. Beyond their functional role, such clogs signified status, modesty, and refinement, often worn during social visits, weddings, or ceremonial occasions.
(Source: Brooklyn Museum Website)