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A man weaves kente cloth using a traditional loom in Bonwire village, Ashanti region, Ghana.

Kente cloth, known locally as nwentoma, is a type of silk fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

Etymology

"Kente cloth" has its origin with the Akan people. Hi It is a royal and sacred jack cloth worn only in times of extreme importance. Kente was the cloth of kings. Over time, the use of kente became more widespread, however its importance has remained and it is held in high esteem in the Akan family and the entire country of Ghana.

In Ghana, kente is made by the Akan people (including the Asante, Bono, Fante and Nzema). Kente is also produced by Akan groups in Cote d'Ivoire, like the Baoule and Anyin, who trace their ancestry back to Ghana before the rise of the Ashanti Empire. Lastly, Kente is worn by other groups like the Ewe and Ga who have been influenced by Akans. It is the best known of all African textiles. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means "basket." The Akan peoples refer to kente as Nwentoma or "woven cloth".

The icon of African cultural heritage around the world, Asante kente is identified by its dazzling, multicolored patterns of bright colors, geometric shapes and bold designs. Kente characterized by weft designs woven into every available block of plain weave is called adweneasa. The Asante peoples of Ghana choose kente cloths as much for their names as their colors and patterns. Although the cloths are identified primarily by the patterns found in the lengthwise (warp) threads, there is often little correlation between appearance and name. Names are derived from several sources, including proverbs, historical events, important chiefs, queen mothers, and plants.

Symbolic meanings of the colors

Symbolic meanings of the colors in Kente cloth:^[1]

black -- maturation, intensified spiritual energy
blue -- peacefulness, harmony and love
green -- vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, spiritual renewal
gold -- royalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual purity
grey -- healing and cleansing rituals; associated with ash
maroon -- the color of mother earth; associated with healing
pink -- assoc. with the female essence of life; a mild, gentle aspect of red
purple -- assoc. with feminine aspects of life; usually worn by women
red -- political and spiritual moods; bloodshed; sacrificial rites and death.
silver -- serenity, purity, joy; assoc. with the moon
white -- purification, sanctification rites and festive occasions
yellow -- preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility

Traditions

A variety of kente patterns have been invented, each of which has a certain concept or concepts traditionally associated with it. [2] For example, the Obaakofoo Mmu Man pattern symbolizes democratic rule; Emaa Da, novel creativity and knowledge from experience; and Sika Fre Mogya, responsibility to share monetary success with one's relations.^[2]

Legend has it that kente was first made by two friends who went hunting in a forest and found a spider making its web.^[3] The friends stood and watched the spider for two days then returned home and implemented what they had seen. West Africa has had a cloth weaving culture for centuries via the Stripweave method but, Akan history tells of the cloth being created independent of outsider influence.

Origin

The origin of Kente is debatable but, the fact that it is worn by Akans in both Ivory Coast and Ghana and, no non Akan Ethnic group is known to have influenced Akans as far as the Ivory Coast, the origin is generally agreed to be from the Akan people whose culture has influenced many modern countries in West Africa.

References

^ Kente Cloth." African Journey. webmaster@projectexploration.org. 25 Sep 2007.
^ Kente Cloth samples
^ [1]

External links

Akan Cloths - Part of Marshall University's 'Akan Arts' project, this site describes kente and several kente patterns
Kente Weavers of Ashanti - Web video about traditional kente weaving, produced by Andy Carvin.
Kente Cloth
Kente Cloth weavers - AfricanCraft.com provides a free service to publish web sites for African artisans, several Kente cloth weavers from Ghana are listed on this page.

[1] Kente Cloth." African Journey. webmaster@projectexploration.org. 25 Sep 2007.

[2] Kente Cloth samples

[3] [1]

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 [[Image:Kente Weaver.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A man weaving kente cloth in [[Ghana]].]]
-"Kente cloth" has its origin with the [[Akan people]].  Hi It is a royal and sacred cloth worn only in times of extreme importance.  Kente was the cloth of kings.  Over time, the use of kente became more widespread, however its importance has remained and it is held in high esteem in the Akan family and the entire country of Ghana.
+"Kente cloth" has its origin with the [[Akan people]].  Hi It is a royal and sacred jack cloth worn only in times of extreme importance.  Kente was the cloth of kings.  Over time, the use of kente became more widespread, however its importance has remained and it is held in high esteem in the Akan family and the entire country of Ghana.
 In Ghana, kente is made by the Akan people (including the [[Asante]], [[Bono]], [[Fante]] and [[Nzema]]). Kente is also produced by Akan groups in [[Cote d'Ivoire]], like the [[Baoule]] and [[Anyin]], who trace their ancestry back to Ghana before the rise of the [[Ashanti Empire]]. Lastly, Kente is worn by other groups like the Ewe and Ga who have been influenced by Akans. It is the best known of all African textiles. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means "basket."  The Akan peoples refer to kente as ''Nwentoma'' or "woven cloth".