Uses of a Chitenje/ Calico cloth
on Ashtin Doorgakant (Malawi), 18/Sep/2010 21:42, 34 days ago
Definition: Piece of cloth, usually decorated, designed to be wrapped around a woman’s waist. It’s often worn around a dress, skirt or trousers which the woman is already wearing inside.How many uses can you put to a rectangular piece of fabric, the most ubiquitous item by far in Malawi (? stroke Africa)?1. Baby carrier - first and foremost2. Leg hider (my favourite quote:“legs are to Malawian men what boobs are to English men”)3. Leg warmer (in winter it’s c-c-c-old!)4. Body warmer (worn around torso)5. Head gear6. Purse (corner tied in a knot with money in)7. Cleaning cloth (for those kids’ uncontrollable secretions)8. Bed liner (including examination beds in those busy clinics)9. Pressure bandage/ Tourniquet (all essential casualty first aid)10. Hanging traction weights (i.e. bricks)11. Bench liner before sitting12. Carrying goods (tied at the corners to make a kind of bag)13. Securing goods (e.g. bowls full of fruit/veg carried on women’s head)14. Head cushion (for carrying heavy water buckets/stick bundles on their heads)15. Fashion accessory16. Political propaganda (Presidents' faces and party logos- I even saw one of Osama Bin Laden!!!)17. Commemoration of important events (NGOs issue many of these ones)18. Curtains or screens19. Mats20. Winnow21. Water filter22. Tourist souvenir (guess the tourist!!)Of course I will have left out loads of uses. The floor is now yours to add more ingenuous suggestions!