Kaba Ensemble
1990s
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The ensemble is of printed cotton in the popular Ghanaian style know as a kaba and slit, or simply kaba, which consist of a kaba (sewn blouse), an abosoo or slit (wrapped or sewn skirt), and an akatasoo or second cloth (unsewn cloth). The kaba features decorative machine embroidery at the cuffs of the sleeves.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Printed cotton, synthetic textile, plastic zip. |
| Brief description | Ensemble of a kaba (top), slit (skirt) and headwrap, 'ABC' pattern printed cotton, Vlisco, Ghana and London, 1990s |
| Physical description | The ensemble is of printed cotton in the popular Ghanaian style know as a kaba and slit, or simply kaba, which consist of a kaba (sewn blouse), an abosoo or slit (wrapped or sewn skirt), and an akatasoo or second cloth (unsewn cloth). The kaba features decorative machine embroidery at the cuffs of the sleeves. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Gallery label | Not restricted to political matters, the cloth we wear can communicate anything from familial groupings or marital status to a love of learning. Designed at least as early as the 1920s, the ABC pattern advertises that the wearer values education or is themselves well educated. Still produced today, the design has gone through many changes and adaptations. The examples here show two variations printed by competing manufacturers 50 years apart, one in Helmond, the Netherlands and the other in Manchester, UK. V&A, Room 40, Africa Fashion (02/07/2022 - 16/04/2023) |
| Credit line | Given by Akua Appiah |
| Object history | This ensemble belonged to Dinah Osei (1946-2016). Dinah Osei was born in 1946 in Ghana and after attending teaching college, moved to the UK in the early 1970s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.36:1 to 3-2022 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2021 |
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