The History of the Kanga: The History of the Shuka: Kangas have been in East The word “traditional” must be Africa since the middle of 1900. taken with a grain of salt. Before the colonization of Africa, the In the 1870’s Muslim Women in Maasai wore leather garments. Zanzibar, Tanzania and They only began to replace calf Mombasa, Kenya bought The History of hides and sheep skin with printed bandanas, imported by commercial cotton cloth in the Kanga,Kitenge Portuguese traders. 1960s, and Shuka They sewed 6 of these But how and why they chose shuka cloth is still unclear today. colourful bandanas together to There are a few ideas. One of make unique pieces of cloth, them is traced back through which they could wear centuries — fabrics were used as modestly. Still to this day a means of payment during the slave trade and landed in East kangas are used for many Africa, while black, blue, and red things such as to sleep in, wear natural dyes were obtained from around the house when Madagascar. There were actually cooking and cleaning and for records of red-and-blue checked “guinea cloth” becoming very carrying babies. popular in the West African region during the 18th century. The History of the These are the links Kitenge: Kitenge is the of the information kiswahili word for african that I found. wax print that is commonly used in East https://www.google.com/search? rlz=1CAHKDC_enTZ863&ei=QWecXqDmOszLg Africa. This fabric weji5KIBA&q=when+was+the+kanga+made& oq=when+was+the+kanga+made&gs_lcp=Cg originally came from Zwc3ktYWIQAzIICCEQFhAdEB46BAgAEEc6Bgg AEBYQHjoFCCEQoAFQiakJWLeyCWD5tAloAHA indonesia.These fabrics CeACAAccCiAG2CZIBBTItMS4zmAEAoAEBqgE were imported by HZ3dzLXdpeg&sclient=psy- ab&ved=0ahUKEwjgitm04PToAhXM5eAKHaO soldiers and are now sold FBEEQ4dUDCAw&uact=5&safe=active&ssui=o n THE END world wide. African women often use the HOPE YOU fabric to wrap around the https://www.gadventures.com/blog/story-behind-maasais- shuka-cloth/ ENJOYED AND chest, or waist or use it as a headscarf or a baby LEARNED sling. This material is https://www.tingatingaart.com/blogs/ourblog/the- SOMTHING very popular to use to story-of-kitenge make clothing. People NEW :) use beautiful wax fabric to convey meaning and social status or a symbol during local traditions such as marriage. The Kanga The Shuka The Kitenge .