Today our Ghanaian markets has been dominated by foreign clothes and styles. Where is our GTP, our ATL, our Fugu from the northern part. Oh! all have been overshadowed by foreign styles and fashion. But what about our ‘kente’ it seems considerable number of Ghanaians still wear it but do they really know how important the kente is?let’s talk about the kente and why we must wear it.
Kente cloth, the traditional and national cloth of Ghana, is worn by several Ghanaian tribes, most especially the Akans, the kingdom of the Ashanti royalty currently prevalent throughout ‘Asanteman’
Kente, known as ‘nwentoma’ in Akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips made and native to the Akan ethnic group of Ghana. Kente is made in Akan lands such as Sakora, Bonwire, Wonoo among others.
Today, this fabric is worn by almost every Ghanaian tribe. Kente comes from the word ‘ kenten’ which means basket in the Asante dialect , they refer to it as ‘ nwentoma’ which means woven cloth.
Kente as a royal and sacred cloth of the Akans is worn only in times of extreme importance. Overtime, the kente became more widespread however its still held in high esteem in the southern part of Ghana. Globally it is uses in the design of academic stole in graduation ceremonies.
Characteristics of kente
Kente cloth varies in complexity. ‘Ahewpan’ refers to a simple design of warp stripes, created using plain, weave and a single pair of heddles.
In contrast, ‘adweneasa’ which translates, as my skill is exhausted, is highly decoys type of kente with weft- based patterns woven into every available block of plain weave.
The Akan people choose kente cloths as much for their names as their colors and patterns. Although, the cloth’s are identified primarily by the patterns found in the lengthwise threads, there is often little correlation between appearance and names.
Names are derived from several sources including proverbs, historical events, important chiefs, Queen mothers and plant. The kente cloth symbolizes high in value.
ORIGIN OF KENTE
West Africa has had a weaving culture for centuries via the stripweave method, but Akan history tells of the cloth being created independent on outside influence. Kente has its origins from the Akan/Ashanti kingdom in Ghana. The origin of kente is in the Akan empire of ‘ Bonoman’ and most Akans migrated out of that area to create many States.
Today, the ewe people of Ghana claim the weaving of kente originated with them, although they are not claiming they invented the art of weaving. They suggest that the name is derived from ” kete” which relates to two alternating rhythmic actions ( ke and te) meaning open and press in the ewe language associated with the weaving of the loom. But the creators are the Bonwire people of Asanteman in the Ashanti region of Ghana
creativity in a new style 