About the archive

The Khanga – or kanga – is a printed cotton fabric, worn mostly by women in East Africa since the nineteenth century. They are sold in joined pairs designed to be separated, and are worn on the upper and lower part of the body, or as head-coverings, or slings for carrying infants and heavy loads. More recently they have become part of the repertoire of the international fashion industry. Khangas deploy a multitude of visual motifs and include an inscription in Kiswahili – a proverb, a political slogan, a public information message or an expression of faith. In traditional use the wearer may intend the inscription to be read by a spouse, or a love rival, or the wider community. The Textiles That Talk project documents the design and use of the khanga, past and present. A live archive on J-Stor records images of several hundred historical and contemporary khanga designs. The project weblog complements the Archive, covering current developments in research and scholarship. Contributions to the site, news of events, and expressions of interest are welcome.

The Archive is supported by Bard College, NY and the J.M.Kaplan Fund. The coordinator is John Ryle, Professor of Anthropology at Bard College. The administrator is Anderson Fletcher (Bard 2025). Thanks to the following faculty and students who have contributed to the development of the project: Anna Cinquemani, Anderson Fletcher, Amy Herman, Wais Kakarr, Sabayo Matiku, Max McGrath