Kanga from the Erie Art Museum Collection

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Kanga from the Erie Art Museum Collection

• Kanga are wrap garments from East Africa. Most
  of these samples were screen printed in
  Tanzanian factories. Kanga are sold in matching
  pairs. Typically they are worn over clothing and
  women usually wear one wrapped around their waist
  and another draped over their head or shoulders.
  Most kanga have an inscription in Swahili. This
  allows women to communicate to their neighbors,
  sweethearts and family sentiments they may not be
  able to express openly. Men give kanga to their
  wives, girlfriends, and mothers. They are
  careful to pick an inscription that
  communicates their feelings, much like Americans
  may choose a greeting card.

www.erieartmuseum.org
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Gossipers will never stop dont pay them any
attention.
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Receive this gift from my joyful heart.
4
Dont turn into a fish bone and pierce me. In
English this translates, Watch your mouth!
5
If you wont care about me, I wont care about
you.
6
Parents blessings bring happiness and peace.
7
Sorry for your loss, we hope your heart can find
peace.
8
Goodness never rots.
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Mother, I have no way to repay you except with
my gratitude.
10
When two are in love, their enemies cant harm
them.
11
This is normal for me, I dont have any problems
with it.
12
My son, concentrate on your studies. Dont fall
into the trap of worldly things.
13
Where is goodness in this world?
14
May it be a blessed X-mas 1999
15
He has promised to love me, I wont let him
down.
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You can poison romance with too many words.
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Love is like a cough, it is impossible to hide.
18
When a big tree falls, the little birds are in
anguish.This inscription is often worn during
the funeral of an important elder.
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To the eyes a native to the heart, a stranger.
She may look like she belongs, but she feels
like an outsider.
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It is no secret, you are my one and only.