Kente Cloth Weave Patterns & Meaning. Like most of Africa's visual art forms, Kente is a visual representation of history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, religious … These designs replicate registered Kente designs but are often mass-produced outside of Ghana with no recognition or payment going to the Akan craftsmen and designers, which author Boatema Boateng has argued represents a significant loss of income to Ghana. It was in the past, worn by kings and people of high … The strips are interlaced to form a fabric that is usually worn wrapped around the shoulders and waist like a toga: The garment is also known as kente. "The significance of the Kente cloth is our African heritage," Bass said. Kente has its own mythology—claiming the original cloth was taken from the web of a spider—and related superstitions such as no work can be started or completed on a Friday and that mistakes require an offering to be made to the loom. With multicultural art projects, I believe it is important for kids to make a connection between the original art and their own art: whether it’s the materials, the process, the meaning… Kente is a meaningful sartorial device, as every aspect of its aesthetic design is intended as communication. In kente cloth, colors are significant, conveying these meanings: Even today, when a new design is created, it must first be offered to the royal house. Kente Cloth Adinkra Symbols & Meaning. Weavers are typically apprentice under a master weaver or company for a number of years before producing their own patterns. Ashanti folklore includes a story where weavers invented kente by seeking to replicate the patterns of Anansi the spider.[3]. with feminine aspects of life; usually worn by women. According to … Originally made from white cotton with some indigo patterning, kente cloth evolved when silk arrived with Portuguese traders in the 17th century. Kente Symbols Meaning Anansi. Kente Cloth Colors denote specific meanings. A popular legend claims creators of kente cloth presented the cloth to Asantehene … Names are derived from several sources, including proverbs, historical events, important chiefs, queen mothers, and plants. Kente definition, a colorful fabric of Ghanaian origin: often worn as a symbol of African American pride: Thousands of vivid shirts made a sea of kente along the parade route.I hadn't realized there was so much kente cloth … Below are the Kente Cloth Weave Patterns that you may find on Kente Cloths. These are different from Adinkra symbols and Kente Cloth colors which also carry their own symbolism. According to the University of Maine Hudson Museum, the word "Kente" means "basket" in the Asante language, and the cloth is deeply interwoven in the Asante culture of Ghana. : colorfully patterned cloth traditionally woven by hand in Ghana. If the king declines to take the pattern, it can be sold to the public. Kente cloth is a hand-woven cloth that originated in Ghana (West Africa) and was primarily worn by the royalty of the Akan ethnic group. NDiaye notes that kente cloth became especially symbolic when Ghana gained independence in 1957 and the country's president and strong proponent of Pan-africanism, Kwame … Hidden Meaning Behind the Design of Kente cloth The Kente cloth itself is so special and is accorded to a great deal of respect. Kente is an Akan royal and sacred cloth worn only in times of extreme importance and is the cloth of kings and nobility, before finding its way into bags, and scarves sold around the globe nowadays. Kente cloth is made from thin strips about 4 centimeters thick woven together on narrow looms, typically by men. [5] By the 17th century, during the rise of the Ashanti Empire, Kente became popularized among Akan royalty, and by the early 19th century master weavers and Kente houses could be seen throughout the Ashanti capital of Kumasi. [2] 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. Kente cloth is closely related to Adinkra cloth, which has symbols stenciled into cloth and is associated with mourning.. Kente patterns varies in complexity, with each pattern having a name or message by the weaver. Ahwepan refers to a simple design of warp stripes, created using plain weave and a single pair of heddles. There is a … clothing identified with a culture and still worn today, "Congressional Democrats criticized for wearing Kente cloth at event honoring George Floyd", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kente_cloth&oldid=999420093, Articles lacking reliable references from February 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, black: maturation, intensified spiritual energy, spirits of ancestors, passing rites, mourning, and funerals, 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. As one of the prominent symbols of African arts and culture, Kente cloth has been embraced by the broader African diaspora (which means people of African descent wherever they might live). Kente cloth is particularly popular in the United States among African Americans and can be found on all types of clothing, accessories, and objects. Below are the Kente Cloth Weave Patterns that you may find on Kente Cloths. … Women wear two shorter lengths to form a skirt and bodice. In modern Ghana, the wearing of Kente cloth has become widespread to commemorate special occasions, with highly sought after Kente brands led by master weavers. Due to the popularity of Kente cloth patterns, Kente print, which is a mass-produced version, typically produced China, is popular throughout the West. Today we’ll look at kente cloth and create an awesome multicultural art project inspired by kente cloth. Buy a kente stole. Alistair Boddy-Evans is a teacher and African history scholar with more than 25 years of experience. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, The Origin and Meaning of Adinkra Symbols, Kwanzaa: 7 Principles to Honor African Heritage, What You Should Know About Kwanzaa and Why It's Celebrated. Kente may have developed from a variety of weaving traditions which existed in Ghana since before the 11th century, with excavations in the region showing instruments such as spindles, whorls, and loom weights. That would be kente cloth. A tradition dating back hundreds of years, the vibrant, colorful weavings of the Kente cloth carry different levels of meaning around the world. Buy Kente … It was then popularized among other tribes such as the Akyem, and the Fante. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Kente cloth comes from the Asante, or Ashanti, peoples of Ghana and Ewe peoples of Ghana and Togo. Globally, the print is used in the design of academic stoles in graduation ceremonies. Kente production can be classified by three versions: authentic Kente cloth made by traditional weavers, Kente print produced by brands such as Vlisco and Akosombo Textile LTD, and mass-produced Kente pattern typically produced in China for Westerners. • black: maturation, intensified spiritual energy, spirits of ancestors, passing rites, mourning, and funerals In the mid-20th century, independence leaders helped popularize kente cloth, explained Dr. Patrick Mbajekwe, associate professor of history at Norfolk State University.For example, Kwame Nkrumah, who would become Ghana's first president, wore a Mmeeda kente cloth … red: political and spiritual moods; bloodshed; sacrificial rites and death. A Royal Cloth Each pattern and color on a kente cloth has a unique connotation conveying some social, political, ethical, historical, philosophical, traditional or religious undertones. Du Bois, Black Activist and Scholar, African Iron Age - 1,000 Years of African Kingdoms, Medieval Clothing and Fabrics in the Middle Ages, A Brief History of the African Country of Liberia, Medieval Methods for Making Fabric From Wool, Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University College London. In Akan culture, the different colors and intricate patterns used in the weaving do have traditional meanings. Kente Cloth Color Meanings; Traditional Kente Cloth was black and white however, the colors of black, red, gold and green modern kente cloth symbolize Black represents Africa, Red … The cloth symbolizes high in value. So, what's the definitive textile of West Africa? Every now and then, a textile becomes so important that it is made part of a nation's identity. In its cultural context of use, Kente is more than just a cloth. Later, when skeins of silk became available, more sophisticated patterns were created, although the high cost of silk meant they were only available to Akan royalty. [1] Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion by royalty among ethnic groups including the Ewe and Ashanti. Kente is exported as one … In Ghana, the Akan ethnic group refers to kente as nwentoma, meaning "woven cloth". Kente, (Akan: nwentoma ; Ewe: kete) refers to a Ghanaian and Togolese textile, made of handwoven cloth strips of silk and cotton. West African cultures have been weaving textiles for thousands of years. with the female essence of life; a mild, gentle aspect of red, purple: assoc. “Kente” comes from the Akan word “kenten”, which means “basket”, … To the descendants of those displaced from Africa, wearing Kente cloth … Below is a list of colors and their meanings: • Blue – peace, togetherness, love and harmony • Black - maturity, spiritual energy, … Fabric samples were pulled apart for the silken thread, which was then woven into the kente cloth. Kente is a brightly colored, banded material and is the most widely known cloth produced in Africa. In June 2020, Democratic Party leaders in the United States caused controversy by wearing stoles made of kente cloth to show support against systemic racism. The golden stool is not only the symbol of pride … For authentic Kente, the towns of Bonwire, Sakora Wonoo, Ntonso, Safo and Adanwomase are noted for Kente weaving, and are located in the Ashanti region. Rolls of cloth are then imprinted with a brand to signify authenticity.[6]. Kente is more than just a cloth. Ghanaians choose kente cloths as much for their names as their colors and patterns. It symbolizes trickery. Kente cloth is a woven fabric produced by the Asante and Ewe people of Ghana. Although kente cloth is now identified with the Akan people in West Africa, and particularly the Asante Kingdom, the term originates with the neighboring Fante people. Authentic Kente cloth is the most expensive, while Kente print varies in price depending on production style. Designs worn by Asante royalty may not be worn by others. This brightly colored and intricately woven textile has grown to become a symbol of West Afr… The Ghanaian Kente cloth: colorful, patterns and symbolism Meaning of the word Kente. Biography of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, African History Expert, Biography of W.E.B. Symbolic meanings of the colors in African Kente cloth: Black kente cloth-- maturation, intensified spiritual energy; Blue kente cloth-- peacefulness, harmony and love; Green kente cloth-- vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, spiritual renewal; Gold kente cloth-- royalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual purity; Grey kente cloth … In kente cloth, colors are significant, conveying these meanings: Blue: love Green: growth and energy Yellow (gold): wealth and royalty Red: violence and anger White: goodness or victory Grey: … [4] What Clothing Did the Ancient Egyptians Wear? Kente cloth designs vary, with the different designs, colors, and patterns each having their own special meanings and stories. We can think of Japanese kimonos, Egyptian linens, or Roman togas as examples. Definition of kente cloth. These are different from Kente Cloth Weave Patterns & Meaning. Because of the intricate patterns, adweneasa cloth requires three heddles to weave.[7][8]. My father and half-brothers were born in Ghana, and my family has shaped my understanding of kente cloth. It is an iconic visual representation of the history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, religious belief, social values, and political thought of West Africa. Below are the meanings of Adinkra symbols that you may find on Kente Cloths. The word kente comes from the Akan or Ashanti people. Kente Cloth in the 20th Century and Beyond. Aesthetics and Usages. What do the Kente designs mean. Anansi is the spider which is pivotal in the tradition and culture of Ghana. The word ‘kente’ means ‘basket’. Although the cloths are identified primarily by the patterns found in the lengthwise (warp) threads, there is often little correlation between appearance and name. On the other hand Congressional Black Caucus chair Karen Bass said, at a news conference for the introduction of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, that the white lawmakers were showing solidarity, and April Reign, who is credited with initiating the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag,[11] while not a fan of the symbolism, suggested that the legislation's fate is more relevant than the event in the Capitol's Emancipation Hall. Kente Cloth Weave Patterns & Meaning. These are different from Adinkra symbols and Kente Cloth colors which also carry their own symbolism. Weaving is done on a wooden loom in which multiple threads of dyed fabric are pressed together. Meaning of the colors used in … "And for those of you without that heritage, we're acting in solidarity. The designs and motifs in kente cloth are traditionally abstract, but some weavers also include words, numbers and symbols in their work. Weaving kente cloth is a cultural tradition of the Asante (also known as Ashanti) people, and these fabrics were originally used exclusively to dress kings and their courts. The cloth was, therefore viewed as one of the top quality, and the most prestigious of kente cloths, besides those woven exclusively for Asante Kings. Buy Kente … [2], Kente comes from the word kenten, which means "basket" in the Asante dialect of Akan language, referencing its basket-like pattern. — called also kente. Kente cloth is a traditional handwoven fabric that comes from the Akan peoples of Ghana. The colors of the cloth each hold symbolism: gold = status/serenity, yellow = … [10] While it was claimed to be an act of unity with African-Americans, many, including Jade Bentil, a Ghanaian-Nigerian researcher, voiced objection tweeting "My ancestors did not invent Kente cloth for them to be worn by publicity (obsessed) politicians as 'activism' in 2020". Golden Stool. silver: serenity, purity, joy; associated with the moon, white: purification, sanctification rites and festive occasions, yellow: preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility, beauty, This page was last edited on 10 January 2021, at 02:10. For many, Kente patterns resonate as a uniquely African or West African feature. GHANA NATIONAL CLOTH - KENTE "KENTE" is a brilliantly colourful fabric, entirely hand-woven by Ghanaian weavers.The brilliant colours and intricate designs associated with Kente have definitely … Similarly, the cloth designs are just as powerful cultural symbols that are the … But Kente cloth also reflects the history of the Ashanti people, from the … History Expert, biography of W.E.B weavers are typically apprentice under a master weaver company... 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