Habari

Culture, wisdom and creative journeys in kanga
Mali Ya Abdulla: A Legacy in Kangas
The story of the modern kanga cannot be told without the Kaderdina family of Mombasa, whose introduction of sayings in the 1920s gave the cloth its voice — a tradition they carry forward today with fresh designs and misemo that inspire and provoke reflection each week. Read more...
Kanga 101: Pindo, Mji and Jina
Today, East African kangas come in endless colours, patterns and design styles. Yet three elements always define them: the pindo (border), the mji (central motif) and the jina (the Swahili saying or proverb). Together, they make a kanga instantly recognisable. Read more...
Khanga by Safara: A Digital Art Series
Digital collage artist and graphic designer Safara Wanjagi recently unveiled Khanga by Safara, a digital art project she has been developing since June 2024, which, as she explains, “began as an exploration of our quintessential East African fabric—khanga/kanga—through the lens of my unique digital collage style.”  Read more...
The Kanga: A Symbol of Mswahili, Uswahili and Kiswahili
For the Swahili people of the East African coast, the kanga (also spelled khanga) is a fabric deeply woven into identity, culture, and language. From the shores of Mombasa and Lamu to Zanzibar and Pemba, the kanga is a timeless, living artefact—modest yet powerful, ordinary yet poetic. Read more...