Quick Facts

Style: Tie-on

Fabric: 100% cotton

Care: Machine washable

Country of Origin: Kenya

Kanga (Kikoy) African Baby Sling

NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Called a "kanga" in some parts of Kenya, Africa, a "kikoy" in the coastal region (this usually refers to the woven style, rather than the printed), and a pagne in other areas, this piece of material is essential to everyday life in Kenya. Women use them to tie babies to their backs, protect their clothing while cooking, as a picnic blanket, and, when rolled into a doughnut shape, to balance melons and baskets on their heads.

The traditional kangas that we carry are the everyday kangas worn by both men and women in Kenya. They are manufactured in Eldoret, Kenya, and are printed cotton, with sayings in Swahili on each one (you can see the sayings in the pictures). The sayings are one of my favorite things about these.
Here is a great page that lists more Swahili translations of kanga sayings.

The kanga baby sling is usually printed and purchased in sets of two identical pieces of fabric (called a doti). An identical pair is sometimes split between best friends. There are ways to tie a baby on using one or two kangas. We offer single kanga baby slings, which can be purchased in sets of two.