This is part i in a four part pancocojams series about kente cloth. Pdf the republic of ghana, formerly known as gold coast, is named after the medieval. Kente is a wellknown woven cloth in ghana with over two thousand years of history, between 1990 and 1991. Today, the cloth can be purchased and worn by local people and kente outfits are very popular to wear at weddings and special occasions. Introduction adinkra and kente are fabrics produced by the asante people of ghana, and there is much that one could say about them from a purely technical perspective in terms of the kinds of fiber, fabric, dyes, and stencils used in their construction. History of kente cloth and its value addition through design integration with african wild silk for export market in ghana conference paper pdf available november 2006 with 2,386 reads. The ashanti empire or confederacy, which was located in what is today ghana, first emerged in west africa during the seventeenth century.
In this historyplex article we shall take a look at one of the most unique creations which belongs to west africa. She then explained the symbolism and colors used in kente cloth and the actual process involved in weaving the cloth. These techniques were appropriated through vast trade networks, as were materials such as french and italian silk, which became increasingly desired in the 18th century and were combined with cotton and wool to make kente. This cloth is special as it is worn as a piece of clothing and each pattern design has a name and a special meaning. Henderson taught art and art history at university of california. Students weave paper into a pattern to resemble colorful african kente cloth. African crafts for kids exploring kente cloth meaning. The kente cloth of textile of a particular ethnic society aids in their. Pdf history of kente cloth and its value addition through. They will also read about a master weaver from ghana and view a book that he has coauthored. The kente cloth is made in different styles, colors and patterns. How ghanas kente cloth became a worldwide phenomenon ghana i love you kente cloth is the most widely known type of african cloth. Stepbystep instructions and additional resources are included.
The beauty of this traditional african craft lies in the kente cloth meaning. The fabric later became a royal cloth and symbol of prestige. The smock is made from the fabric called gonja cloth. But kente cloth also reflects the history of the ashanti people, from the emergence of the various ashanti kingdoms to the development of the slave trade up to and including contemporary life in ghana. As we look back in history, the kente cloth is reserved for the kings and is associated.
Kente cloth origins kente is connected with the ewe and ashanti people of ghana and arose first in west africa during the 17 th century. The garment is very important for ghanaian culture. Jun 24, 2014 kente kenten means basket is a handwoven cloth originally from the ashanti kingdom, in ghana, west africa. Students may need a separate sheet of paper for computation. The traditional garments of ghana are the kente cloth and the ghanaian smock. Books african body adornment these are great kente cloth coloring pages. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
Wearing kente cloth stoles during graduation ceremonies. How ghana s kente cloth became a worldwide phenomenon ghana i love you kente cloth is the most widely known type of african cloth. This fabric is worn by almost every ghanaian tribe. Although most mainstream texts attribute kente to the ashanti, an alternate and credible view is that kente originated with the ewe people of ghana who then passed it on to the ashanti. Kente cloth is local to ghana, a country located in west africa. The origins of kente cloth is sometimes said to date. Kente cloth is deeply intertwined with the history of the ashanti nation. It is a handwoven piece of fabric with very colorful and symbolic patterns. Com, accra, ghana these web pages have not been updated since 1995. Mar 18, 2017 kente kentay is considered to be the most famous of all african textiles, and one of the worlds most complicated weavings.
The origin of kente cloth is explained partly with a legend and partly with historical account, coming from two important towns in asante region of ghana, namely bonwire and adawomase. Not just any old cloth the ultimate history project. Marie gave a brief introduction to the history of kente cloth and how it was brought as a domestic art form to ghana see the pdf of the powerpoint presentation here. Education, history, culture, scholarly associations. May 02, 2017 overall, the kente cloth session was successful. Although you might now know the name, the kente cloth is used globally. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means basket in akan dialect asante. Pdf history of kente cloth and its value addition through design. The beauty of this traditional african craft lies in.
Pdf consumers preference and further uses of kente cloth. Akans, from the ashanti kingdom, traditionally wear clothes made from kente cloth. The main cloth of the ashanti was the kente cloth, known locally as nwentoma. Gold is an important part of asante culture and history. Mar 30, 2017 this colorful book tells the folktale of how kente cloth was inspired by a master spider weaver.
The colors chosen for kente cloths are symbolic, and a combination of colors. How kente cloth has been unifying two ghanaian tribes. We cannot guarantee that kente cloth book is in the library, but if you are still not sure with the service, you can choose free trial service. Diy digital download printable kente bookmark templates with 12 different kente cloth backgrounds free matching gift tags file downloads in jpg this is a digital item ready for download no items will be sent in the mail. In this work i am looking at how textiles and weaving for. The intricategeometric shapes, labyrinthine symbols, texture, and scintillating colours have given kente the glamorous appeal and popularity in most parts of the world and locally, it has been a historical tool bonding two formidable groups who weave it. When buying kente cloth, make sure that it is hand woven from individual threads. According to tradition kente is reserved for special occasion, it is not meant. Students follow a color key to reveal a kente cloth line design from ghanawhile building 3digit addition skills with regrouping. Kente is the best known and most widely appreciated of all african textiles, adopted throughout the african diaspora worldwide since the 1960s as a symbol of panafricanism and afrocentric identity.
Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Kente is the most celebrated, richly variegated, and important of all the textiles made in ghana. According to ghanaian mythology, kente cloth was first created when 2 friends watched how a spider wove its web. This is not kente but rather an imitation and does not carry the same value and prestige. With its elaborate weft designs and patterns, kente is worn even by people who do not have any close relationship with ghana or the african continent. Nov 22, 2017 a weaver creating a traditional black and white kente design on a handloom in ghana. As part of the social lifeways of ghanaians, kente is used on special occasions to. This outfit is mostly worn for special occasions, ceremonies, and celebrations. The indigenous asante kente fabric of ghana is woven in long, narrow strips on traditional looms using. This is the second year that i have done this project for black history month. History of kente cloth and its value addition through design integration with. March 31, 2019 this is part ii in a four part pancocojams series about kente cloth. Oct 19, 2009 kente cloth is local to ghana, a country located in west africa. History of weaving influences from europe on the kente done in ashanti today have been suggested.
May 01, 2001 margaret musgrove follows her acclaimed debut childrens book ashanti to zulu 1976, a winner of the caldecott medal for illustrations by leo and diane dillon, with another west african tale entitled, the spider weaver. According to legend, two friends from the town of bonwire now the leading centre of kente weaving in ashanti learned the art of weaving by observing a spider spinning its web. Emaa da stands for novel creativity and knowledge from experience. The brilliant colours and intricate designs associated with kente. After many years of travel, research, and teaching in africa musgrove spins a tale of traditional ghana. Discover how these woven cloths are created in ghana and learn about the colors and symbols of kente cloth. Written by an amazing author, educator and chef, angela shelf medearis, the book begins with a brief history of kwanzaa and its seven principles. It is hand woven in wooden looms and is of very high worth. An indigenous instructional resource for design education in textiles. This colorful book tells the folktale of how kente cloth was inspired by a master spider weaver.
The colors chosen for kente cloths are symbolic, and a combination of colors come. It is important, then, to remember the complicated message in each cloths design and that kente comes from a specific country ghana with its own particular history. The ghanaian woman and foreign fashion since kente. It comes in a variety of patterns, colors and designs, each of which have different meanings. Kente kenten means basket is a handwoven cloth originally from the ashanti kingdom, in ghana, west africa. As production increased, the cloth became more affordable. Pdf kente the pride of ghana traditional clothing, very colorful, its patterns full of ghanaian. Kente is made in akan lands such as the ashanti kingdom, including the towns of bonwire, adanwomase, sakora wonoo, and ntonso in the kwabre areas of the ashanti region. Kente the pride of ghana traditional clothing, very colorful, its patterns full of ghanaian traditional. Kente, known as nwentoma in akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips made and native to the ewe ethnic group of ghana. When he moved to the national capital, accra, and realized that asante kente was more popular than the ewe version, he found a group of asante weavers who readily taught him how to weave asante kente. In order to read online or download kente cloth ebooks in pdf, epub, tuebl and mobi format, you need to create a free account.
Students will be able to discuss the importance of cloth weaving in west africa. This is a chart of the most common traditional meanings for each color that can be used when children are coloring their own kente cloth patterns or doing a kente cloth craft. There are many types of kente, each with its own symbolism and name, which tells the history, culture and social practice of the weavers of the cloth. My 3rd graders made kente cloth and we used this handout to create their pieces. Share this with your friends so they can learn more about this wonderful piece of art, culture and history. They will answer four questions about their reading and then will compose an informative magazine article about strip weaving and kente cloth. Ghanaians feel that american uses of kente cloth have become more commercial than celebratory, reducing the cloth to a generic symbol for anything african. Africa is so diverse in its culture that there is ample reflection of the same in their attire too.
Kente cloth asante and ewe peoples article khan academy. Kente, now ghanas national cloth, is one indigenous handicraft that has won world wide recognition. Seven spools of thread is a book that was written for kwanzaa about kente cloth, a beautiful traditional fabric woven in uganda. A weaver creating a traditional black and white kente design on a handloom in ghana. Watch for kente cloth patterns in books and elsewhere. Since at least the 1970s, for many african americans, kente cloth has become a symbol of pride in our african heritage. Kente cloth network computer systems, ltd via ghana.
Linguist staff okyeamepoma asante peoples kente cloth asante and ewe peoples this is the currently selected. The story of kente cloth produced in ghana, west africa. This opinion of mine therefore is solely based on the history of textile amongst the akans with. The pattern emulates asante kente cloth from ghana, one of the most prestigious african textiles. Kofi is a seven year old ashanti boy who lives in bonwire, a town known for making kente cloth. Meaning of colours of ghanaian kente cloth ghafla. On the part of bonwire, it is popularly known that a man name otaa kraban and his friend kraku amoagya from bonwire learnt the art of weaving by observing a. Gender, cloth production, and appropriation, boateng addresses the gendered privilege in mens control of adinkra and kente production, while revealing new gendered opportunities offered by the industrialized appropriation of these handcrafted textiles to ghanaian women cloth traders, who control the market in manufactured textiles. Bright african patterns with deep meaning form great authentic garments. Indigo is a gallery of international folk art located in philadelphia, pa. Kofi uses his magic to show us not just his hometown but also different parts of ghana. An informational book on african kente cloth geared toward 1st grade.
The covering of the state, is made of camels hair and wool. Kente cloth pdf ebook kente cloth printable coloring book graduation. Kente clothes kente weaving in ghana, ashanti region. An ornamental figurine, plated with gold or silver, topped all ceremonial. The popularity of the colors and patterns of the kente make it one of the most recognizable textiles in africa. Meyer, with outstanding photographs of his home town taken by nestor. Kente cloth pdf ebook kente cloth printable coloring book graduation stole. Consumers preference and further uses of kente cloth. Kente cloth worn by american gospel choirs edited by azizi powell latest update. Akans refer to kente asnwentoma, meaning woven cloth.
Margaret musgrove follows her acclaimed debut childrens book ashanti to zulu 1976, a winner of the caldecott medal for illustrations by leo and diane dillon, with another west african tale entitled, the spider weaver. Kente cloth is another traditional garment of ghana. Pdf kente cloth ebooks includes pdf, epub and kindle version. Kente kentay is considered to be the most famous of all african textiles, and one of the worlds most complicated weavings. Almost every ghanaian has a garment of kente cloth. Although kente cloth is now identified with the akan people in west africa, and particularly the asante kingdom, the term originates from the neighboring fante. Kente is a brightly colored, banded material and is the most widely known cloth produced in africa. Kente cloth is a beautiful traditional cloth or textile from west africa, rich in meaning and symbolism. This story, wether true or not, shows the harmony between ghanaians and mother nature. Clothing production was typically gender specialized. Kente cloth is also worn by the ewe people, who were under the rule of the asante kingdom in the late 18th century.
However, the three weaving centres have a long history of interrelations. The best place to buy kente cloth is directly from ghana. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Activity book to teach about kente cloth which is culturally specific to the akan people of ghana. The making, use and evaluation of ghanaian textiles. Kente is more than a clothing item, it is a visual representation of history philosophy, ethics, oral literature religious beliefs and political thought. The kente cloth is originated from southern ghana, while the gonja cloth from northern ghana. Just recently he has coauthored a childrens book, titled master weaver from ghana, with louise s. History of textiles in ghana, the akan background abstract. Diy printable kente cloth bookmark templates 12 different. Popular among the textiles produced locally are kente and adinkra.
In the united states, ghanas and the ivory coasts traditional kente cloth is the most widely known of all african fabrics. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means basket in akandialect asante. Kente, known as nwentom in akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the akan ethnic group of south ghana. Not only is this book a fun read, but i found it to be more informative in many ways about ghanaian culture than some of the country explorer type books. Pdf kente cloth ebooks includes pdf, epub and kindle. A genuine kente cloth is made by the ewe and ashanti weavers in ghana, a country in africa. Pdf the influence of european elements on asante kente. A piece of kente cloth is not just random colors and patterns and thrown together because they look pretty.
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