What Is Kente Cloth?
Kente Cloth refers to a Ghanaian textile, made of handwoven cloth, strips of silk and cotton. Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion by royalty among ethnic groups such as the Ashanti and Ewe. It is also worn by queens, princesses and women of Dagbon.
What Material Is Kente Cloth Made Of?
The Kente cloth is a silk and cotton fabric native to the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
What Is Does Kente Cloth Represent?
Kente is a meaningful sartorial device, as every aspect of its aesthetic design is intended as communication. The colors of the cloth each hold symbolism: gold = status/serenity, yellow = fertility, green = renewal, blue = pure spirit/harmony, red = passion, black = union with ancestors/spiritual awareness.
Why Is Kente Cloth Very Special?
Kente is more than just a cloth. It is an iconic visual representation of the history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, religious belief, social values, and political thought of West Africa. Kente is exported as one of the key symbols of African heritage and pride in African ancestry throughout the diaspora.
What Is Kente Cloth Used For?
Full sets of kente (multiple strips sewn together to create a large piece of cloth) are often used to make garments for special occasions, such as weddings, church, funerals, and more. More recently, Ghanaian artisans have also used the cloth to make accessories like bags, sandals, and jewelry.
Characteristics Of Kente:
There exist hundreds of different kinds of kente patterns. Kente patterns vary in complexity, with each pattern having a name or message by the weaver. Ghanaians 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. The cloth symbolizes high value.
Ahwepan refers to a simple design of warp stripes, created using plain weave and a single pair of heddles. The designs and motifs in kente cloth are traditionally abstract, but some weavers also include words, numbers and symbols in their work. Example messages include adweneasa, which translates as “i’ve exhausted my skills”, is a highly decorated type of kente with weft-based patterns woven into every available block of plain weave. Because of the intricate patterns, adweneasa cloth requires three heddles to weave.
Symbolic Meanings Of The Colors:
- Black: maturation, intensified spiritual energy, spirits of ancestors, passing rites, mourning, and funerals
- 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; associated with the moon
- White: purification, sanctification rites and festive occasions
- Yellow: preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility, beauty
When Should Kente Cloth Be Worn?
Today, kente cloth is worn by community leaders and at special occasions like weddings and graduations.
Kente Cloth Prices In Ghana:
The cost of High quality Men and women Kente fabrics in Ghana, which can be use for any occasion. High end material, quality assured . Price ranges from GHc 60.00 per yard to Ghc 120.00 per yard and the full kente cloth is sold at an amount of GHc 500.00 to GHc 900.00....!!!