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Red, black  and white pattern with maple leaf motifs; “Yaka si ya mtu “ printed on the lower edge
Kanga
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Kanga

Maker Kenyan Artist
Date1981
Place of originNairobi, Kenya
Mediumcotton
Dimensions6 ft. 3 in. × 11 ft. (190.5 × 335.3 cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Roy Hunt
Object number2017.4.2
Collections
Visual Descriptionred, black and white pattern with maple leaf motifs; “Yaka si ya mtu “ printed on the lower edge
Black, red and white pattern with floral motifs ; “Pombe si maji” on lower edge
Kenyan Artist
1981
Yellow, olive green and brown pattern with floral motif, “Nakupenda Lakini” printed on lower edge.
Kenyan Artist
1981
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"
Urafiki Tanzania
2010
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."
Tanzanian Artist
2009
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."
Tanzanian Artist
2009
Red and white and black paisleu (cashew) pattern, with center medallion; Swahili inscription reads: "Mungu atupe furaha daima" (God (should) give us happiness always)
Lesso
2010
Wall Covering (arkilla kereka)
Fulani Artist
20th century
Cloth (kanga)
Textile Mills Tnz. Ltd.
2010
Flower motif in yellow with purple and black on white field. Swahili inscription reads: "Mungu hana likizo" (God doesn't take holidays)
Urafiki Tanzania
2010
19 panels, all hand sewn. Medium wieght all cotton cloth with orange/gold rayon overshot yarn to fabricate the kola nut leaf motifs. Ten yarn colors were used, in addition to the overshot, with colored warps and wefts creating an additional secondary palette of colors.
Ewe Artist
1940s
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.
Tanzanian Artist
2009
Strip woven cloth hand sewn at selvedges; red, yellow, tan, green and black; warp and weft patterns, some floating weft designs and openwork. Elaborate warp and weft patterns. Weft patterns include hands, fish and geometric abstract motifs that may be identifiable by experts.
Ewe Artist
20th century
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