Originating on the coast of East Africa in the mid-19th century, Kanga is the cloth used to make GBP bags. The Kanga is a rectangle of pure cotton cloth with a border all around it, printed in bold designs and bright colors. It is as long as your outstretched arm and wide enough to cover you from neck to knee, or from chest to toe.
Kangas are typically bought in pairs and are most attractive and useful as a pair. Most traditional outfits require a matched or unmatched pair. Men, women and children all have uses for Kangas. Babies are virtually born in them and are usually carried in a soft sling of kanga cloth. We can make three large GBP bags from one Kanga. The unused scrap fabric is used to make gift bags, patches for aprons and other items sold locally in Nairobi.
Early this century, Swahili words were added to the kangas. The sayings or slogans are often African proverbs. When our GBP “buyer” shops for kanga in the textile district in downtown Nairobi, she reviews the proverbs and ensures they are compatible to our mission.
As an art form as well as a beautiful, convenient garment, the kanga has become an integral part of East African culture. We’d like to believe that the GBP Kanga reusable tote bags will become an integral part of American culture!
Visit the Global Bag Project website and view a Kanga demonstration by Mary Ogalo, our Project Coordinator in Nairobi.
Source: Kangas: 101 Uses by Jeannette Hanby and David Bygott
