BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture African Culture Wearing a Khanga

Ok, I just got an IM from Uncle Steve. LOL Here is his translation...

Hata nikitenda wema binadamu siwema yao nimaovu.

"If I practiced fairness, man is unfair and always evil"

Sorry it isn't a nicer proverb...

You takes what you get!
The khanga is beautiful, though.
Thanks for finding the translation for me, Jeanne.

Not at all! I own three khangas & only know the Swahili on one of them and that is the "Peace Corps" Khanga I own. I should pull out the other two & have Uncle Steve translate them for me

Jeanne, your daughter looks so lovely in the khanga. I have seen it worn the second way, with bare arms, and also like the second picture Busokelo posted. Another handy way I've seen it used is to wrap around a baby and tie the baby onto the mother's back.

the baby thing sounds cute. I bet i could do that with my dog.

It is cute, and very practical because the mother then has her hands free, but her baby is with her all the time.

Generally, you wouldn't be wearing a t-shirt under a khanga. I had my daughter do that for modesty reasons. She was about 8 years old when I took the picture. She's 14 now. LOL

Carrying a baby on the back is very common in Africa. Woman will do that & work in the field at the same time. I found a picture of Samburu women in Kenya carrying their babies this way. The woman in the foreground is wearing a khanga around her waist.

I think the baby is actually in a piece of fabric called a "kikoy" which is a striped fabric and usually larger than a khanga and also generally a heavier fabric.

As a non-person of color, would i look funny if i walked around in a khanga? I like the look. Not sure how to phrase this. What do people think?

I know that I would look extremely out of place wandering around New England in a khanga or other African garb.

However, I have taken other fabric that I've bought at a fabric store and wrapped it around my waist like a khanga & have had lots of compliments.

When I move to Florida - I think wearing a khanga would be ok - especially on the beach. My opinion it a matter of where you live and the environment you are in.

If I remember, Jilly, you have an animal print scarf that you've worn on some of out gatherings & I thought you were able to pull that off quite nicely.