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Kanga Animal English Name
If you are looking for a translation of the Swahili word kanga, and you don’t mean the fabric but the bird, then the word you are looking for is guineafowl.
Do these two Swahili meanings of kanga have any connection?
Absolutely!
The fabric kanga got its name from the guineafowls that were (and still often are) printed on it.
Now you know!
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Table of Contents
Kanga Called in English
Did you come to this post wondering about the word kanga in English?
If so, you are in the right place.
Let’s begin with what to call the East African fabric kanga in English.
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What Is Kanga Called in English?/Kanga Meaning/Khanga in English
Quite simply, the East African fabric kanga/khanga remains kanga/khanga in English too.
Kangaa Meaning
Kanga is an East African cotton fabric with bold designs, bright colors, and a Swahili saying, aphorism, or slogan printed along its bottom border (see the image above).
+Kanga Kororo in Engilish
If by “kanga kororo” you mean the Swahili names for guinea fowl, then kanga and kororo refer to types of guinea fowl, but they are not quite interchangeable.
- Kanga = guinea fowl, especially the common or helmeted guinea fowl.
- Kororo = crested guinea fowl, a different type characterized by a prominent dark crest on its head.
So, in English, kanga kororo would most naturally be understood as crested guinea fowl if kororo is the word you are referring to.
What Does a Kororo Look Like?
The crested guinea fowl is an African bird with:
- A dark, feathered crest on top of its head
- A bluish or blue-grey bare neck
- A mostly dark body covered with small white spots
- A body shape similar to the more familiar guinea fowl
The scientific name generally associated with the crested guinea fowl is Guttera pucherani.
Older Swahili terminology specifically describes kororo as a crested guinea fowl, while kanga is used for the more common guinea fowl.
Kanga vs. Kororo
| Swahili | English | Main distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Kanga | Guinea fowl / helmeted guinea fowl | Has the familiar bare, helmet-like head |
| Kororo | Crested guinea fowl | Has a conspicuous feathered crest |
One potential source of confusion is that “kanga” is also the name of the East African rectangular printed cloth worn as clothing.
In a bird context, however, kanga means guinea fowl.
So if someone in Tanzania or elsewhere in East Africa says “kororo” when talking about a bird, “crested guinea fowl” is the more precise English translation.
Kanga Animal definition
In Australia, the word kanga is used informally to mean kangaroo.
Kanga is also another word for a prison warder.
Kanga Mount in English
Mount Kanga is a mountain in Tanzania’s Nguru Mountains, in Mvomero District, Morogoro Region. It is also associated with the rare cycad Encephalartos kanga.
Photo credits: Wikipedia; Tanzania Blog; PanBK at the English-language Wikipedia, eboy, jamiiforums.com; Miwani for Mwanza Mission
Hiya Biche,
I have recently fallen in love with African prints and fabrics, and among these the kanga. I have to say that given my poor grasp of Swahili, I look mostly to the print. Further, as opposed to you, I have my tailor make me something, which means the words are usually hidden or that piece of fabric cut off; I guess I should start urging my tailor to let the words feature prominently from now on (and also make more effort to find out what the ‘jina’ is).
Anyway, kangas are indeed beautiful, and I wish I could go kanga shopping myself but alas, I have to rely on assorted relatives from when they travel to Dar. I suppose there is a place in Kampala but I would imagine the variety is not as wide!
Hey Biche, I beg you!!!! when u next see the one that says Calm your Spirit am yours… please get it for me so i can wear it special for Tata Boy (your BIL). Otherwise you know i have started collecting Kangas… they are just a delight and Comfortable!!!!! they have replaced Nightgowns (too much detail here?) wa they are too comfortable….I am yet to have my first outfit made out of them…. the one i ordered didn’t fit too well unfortunately so I have put it aside till i can come back to my tanzanian Designer..Actually come to think about it my love for kangas is strongly influenced by my cousin and her mother… thank you sooo much for introducing me to them.
thanks, biche. this was a great post. i always enjoy reading kangas, because the more difficult swahili is a great test and tutor of my newest language. i’m subscribing to your blog — always anxious to read what others have to say about tanzania and east africa…
Japo watamba kwangu huna namba is one of my favorites.Love khangas and kikois they are too functional. It is said a proper woman doesn’t travel without one or the other.
@Vive – Please let me not mislead you! As much as a kanga’s jina is interesting and can be significant, I recommend that you continue cutting it out when having an outfit made because it greatly limits what you can do with your kanga if you try to keep its jina right side up (so that it’s easily readable) and unobtrusively placed. What your tailor currently does is the right way to go!
@Julian – It’s my pleasure to nurture your love of kangas. What’s the point of having Tanzanian cousins? π I’ll definitely buy you that kanga when I next see it. I loved it too! Not only was its jina pretty, so too were its design and color. I think you (and Tata Boy) will like it. As for kanga as nightwear, Swahili women are really onto something! π
@JamesBrett – Welcome to ChickAboutTown! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now; it’s nice to see you on mine. I feel the same way about the language aspect of kanga sayings – I always end up learning new words in an attempt to understand what they mean, which brings me to…
@Gish – Thanks for for sharing one of your favorite kanga sayings. Can you translate it please? I’m not sure what watamba means. π Otherwise, I totally agree with you that kanga and kikoi are so functional!
Thank you, all, for your comments! π
HelloγBiche,
I’m Ayumi from Japan.
It was pleasure to find your blog to know african culture.
i found your blog while searching for some information of kanga.
i like them and hopefully i could sell them in japan and do some activity to tell african culture.
thank you for your information and i want cheer you up.
ayumi
Hi Ayumi,
Welcome to ChickAboutTown! Thank your for your message of encouragement. I am glad you enjoyed this post about kanga sayings. You mentioned that you like kanga? Where did you come across them?
Biche
I love your blog and your forays into interesting places. Thanks for sharing your insights and finds.
Hello Biche,
I just discover your blog and i LOVE it!!!
I’m from Comoros Islands and the culture is really really closed to tanzanian culture!!
I don’t suppose you could translate this? “kaseme wewe mimi vikao vimenishinda” i’ve not been able to find a translation and google translate is less than helpful!
It means something like: “You go talk, as for me, I am tired of the meetings”. The context to me sounds like a couple/neighbors/friends/relatives who have been continuously quarreling and taking the dispute for resolution at some sort of council. The wearer of the kanga is saying, she’s tired of all the dispute-resolution meetings and the other party should go ahead without her. It’s a feisty but very amusing (to me) kanga saying.
Anyone want to correct me on my translation?
Oh, and welcome to ChickAboutTown! π
B.
I have a kanga that says: “Radhi ya mama ni sitara ya mwana”. I cannot find a translation. Can you kindly tell me what it says?
Thank you.
Hi Ciel,
Welcome to ChickAboutTown! Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. The word sitara is stumping me a bit so I am asking around for you. Luckily, I live in Dar es Salaam so I should be able to get back to you soon. I’ll let you know as soon as I have a trustworthy translation.
Biche
Hi Biche – great to find yr blog- ive been searching the internet for the meaning of a Kanga i have ” Ya Bingiriya Chunguanguwa” – any ideas would be appreciated- cheers ! ( it might be about ‘oranges’ – but it’s blue black n white, made in Kenya. Ta.
Hi Mike,
Welcome to Chick About Town! Hmmm…the words you have shared with me don’t seem to me to be Swahili. Might they be in another Kenyan language? Or might this be a kanga that was printed to commemorate a special event? The only word that looks like it could be Swahili to me is ‘ya’ which means ‘of’.
Biche