Each time friends come to visit our home from America, they ask, “where can I get some of that African fabric? It is so pretty and so African!” Then after they have stayed with us a few days they say, “WOW, I never knew that the chitenje had so many uses!” I reply, “Yeah, I have started making a mental list of all of the things you can do with a chitenje!” While the Omega Team was here, they finally convinced me that I should write a blog about all of the things you can use a chitenje for!
What is a chitenje?!
Chitenje (ch-tan-jay)- a two meter piece of fabric that is sold in markets all over Africa. They come in hundreds of colors with prints that vary from fish to pots and from suitcases to pictures of village life.They are also used to show support for a presidential candidate or church affiliation. A chitenje can range from $2.00 -$4.00 depending on where they have come from and the quality that they are. Wax chitenjes are of better quality and are usually more expensive. Chitenjes are made in the Ivory Coast, Namibia, Tanzania, and the Congo (just to name a few).
Just a few uses of a chitenje ( I have used them for all of the following!)
Dress, shirt, skirt, head covering, purse, laundry basket, baby carrier (pappoon), tablecloth, sofa cover, chair cover, curtain, quilt, blanket, diaper, pot holder, umbrella, napkin, towel, pillow, floor mat, kleenex, shawl, and a cushion for the water jug to sit on when you are carrying water on your head!!!
I never go anywhere without a chitenge and when we travel, I have a minimum of 4 chitenjes with me!!
The women in this picture are using a total of 9 chitenjes! They have them on as skirts, baby carriers, water carriers! Awesome, huh?!
2 comments:
really impressive and beautiful :)
Must have one of these! Could you bring me one??
love ya!
em
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