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Peacock with feathers and floral border; yellow, bright blue and yellow on white field; Swahili inscription reads: "Neno la mungu ni la milele" (Words of God are eternal).
Cloth (kanga)
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Cloth (kanga)

Maker Urafiki Tanzania
Date2010
Place of originTanzania, Africa
PurchasedDar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa
MediumCommercially printed cotton cloth
Dimensions40 in. x 10 ft. 4 in. (101.6 x 315 cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of James and MacKenzie Ryan
Object number2012.38.3
Collections
Visual DescriptionPeacock with feathers and floral border; yellow, bright blue and yellow on white field; Swahili inscription reads: "Neno la mungu ni la milele" (Words of God are eternal).
Flower motif in yellow with purple and black on white field. Swahili inscription reads: "Mungu hana likizo" (God doesn't take holidays)
Cloth (kanga)
Urafiki Tanzania
2010
Yellow, dark green and black with dots; Mosque motif. Printed Swahili inscription on cloth, Yote yatenndawayo namkabidhi Mola" - all who are well-treated are entrusted to God" or alternately, [literal] "all that is acted upon / happens to me is entrusted to God"
Cloth (kanga)
Urafiki Tanzania
2010
Red and white and black paisleu (cashew) pattern, with center medallion; Swahili inscription reads: "Mungu atupe furaha daima" (God (should) give us happiness always)
Cloth (kanga)
Lesso
2010
Cloth (kanga)
Cloth (kanga)
Textile Mills Tnz. Ltd.
2010
A long sleeve caftan/dress sewn from strips of wax print fabric likely Chinese imports and Woodin (a company that locally produces fabric in Ghana). The bodice of the caftan features horizontal strips, whereas the skirt of the dress relies on vertical strips. Each strip is formed from a mixture of long strips of fabric, interspersed with small squares of fabric. The caftan includes a designer label, which states: “Cloth on cloth designs by Tei Huagie, made in Ghana”.
"Cloth on Cloth" Caftan
Tei Mensah Huagie
2000
Inscription reads "EE Mola Tubariki Tudumishe Upendo"; big yellow flowers; black, yellow, green and white; inscription on bottom border reads "Urafiki Tanzania Printed Khanga FTC DES No. 649."
Wrapper (kanga)
Tanzanian Artist
2009
Two lengths of cloth with white field with small black pattern of stars and central medallion of hand wearing wristeatch holding wrapped gift; border has red rosses and small medallions of green and red palm trees; insciption reads "Pokea Zawadi Ingawa Hafifu" [google translation: received the gift although weak]; side border inscription reads "Haharia-Zanzibar D. no. 1727."
Wrapper (kanga)
Tanzanian Artist
2009
Black-and-white print of two faces with raised, expressive hands. Below the drawing, red text reads "FOR THE YEAR OF THE INSANE", followed by two columns of the poem by Anne Sexton: O Mary, fragile mother, hear me, hear me now although I do not know your words. The black rosary with its silver Christ lies unblessed in my hand for I am the unbeliever. Each bead is round and hard between my fingers, a small black angel. O Mary, permit me this grace, this crossing over, although I am ugly, submer…
For the Year of the Insane
Barbara Swan
1967
Inscription reads "Mla Nawe Hafi Nawe"; blue, dark blue, yellow and white; central floral medallion and floral border; very thin, worn -1 wrapper, older type flower pattern; hemmed.
Wrapper (kanga)
Tanzanian Artist
2009
image of a mermaid with dark hair, who is surrounded by fish, and holding a spoon over a bowl of food supported by fish; the background has gray columns on a field of light blue. Inscription in white on the black frame, bottom, is .. Mami Wata is a spirit who lives in the sea will ruin your Life and you will go to hell. Go to Jesus Christ..." Signature on lower right corner reads: Kwame Akoto, Almighty God Artworks, Kumasi.
Mami Wata is a Mermaid Spirit who Lives in the Sea
Kwame Akoto
2010
Botanical drawing of the Gallande, La Teton de Venus, and the Noblesse peaches; each is depicted with it pink flowers on the left, the fruit in the middle, and its distinguishing green serrated leaves on the right.
Noblesse Peach
George Brookshaw
1804-1812
A black and white etching of figures gathered around a round table outdoors beneath trees. Some play music and dance, while pitchers and basins rest on the ground in the foreground. French text is printed at the bottom reads: "Dans les charmes du vin et de la volupté / Ce prodigue se perd en sa brutalité / Cum privilege Reg. Israel excudit."
The Prodigal Son
Jacques Callot
c. 1624

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