Some books don’t just tell a story — they hold a world within their pages. Kanga Collection is one of those rare treasures, tracing the journey of the kanga across time, culture and meaning through the lens of Chieko Orimoto’s collection.
Published in Dar es Salaam by Tanzania’s leading independent publisher, Mkuki na Nyota, Kanga Collection is presented in three languages — English, Japanese and Kiswahili — a fitting reflection of the cross-cultural narrative it carries.
Orimoto first encountered the kanga on a trip to Kenya in the 1990s. What began as fascination soon became devotion. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to share kanga culture in Japan — curating exhibitions, hosting talks and workshops, and conducting research in India, Madagascar, the Netherlands and the UK. Each year, she returns to Kenya and Tanzania to collect kangas, deepening her understanding while expanding a remarkable archive of pattern, colour and story.
Within its pages, the book explores every facet of this iconic cloth — its history, motifs and social meanings — while tracing its evolution far beyond East Africa. It reveals a fascinating connection between Japan and East Africa: around the 1960s, Japanese manufacturers supplied about 90% of the region’s kangas. Her exploration extends to Madagascar, where the traditional lamba mirrors the kanga with its pindo, mji and jina, yet at its centre features exquisitely detailed scenes of daily life.
Visually, Kanga Collection is a feast. Each page opens a window into Orimoto’s personal archive — a testament to two decades of travel, research and reverence. For anyone drawn to the histories woven into cloth, it is essential reading: a book that celebrates beauty while uncovering the textile’s unexpected global threads.
We’re proud to share it through our shop, in the hope that it inspires the same sense of wonder and cross-cultural connection that has guided its journey.