Kanga
1945
- Medium
- Cotton, plain weave; printed; both selvages present
- Dimensions
- 109.2 × 151.1 cm (43 × 59 1/2 in.)
- Genre
- Textile
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Tags
sailingcotton (textile)stripesshipsprintingWWIIwardotsAfrican TextilesOcean20th CenturyTextilewavesweavingflagsplain weaving
About
This kanga is a commemoration of the British Empire’s campaign in East Africa during World War II, some of which took part in Kenya. It celebrates the first Allied strategic victory in the battle against Italy and its colony of Italian East Africa. The Italian defeat eased the flow of supplies through the Red Sea to Egypt. The intentionally curved sides of the cloth emulate a sail taken up by the wind.