Kente cloth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kente cloth, known locally as nwentoma, is a type of fabric made of interwoven woven cloth strips and is native to the country of Ghana, where it was first developed in the 12th century.
[edit] Etymology
Kente is an original Ewe word meaning to open and wear/wrap around. "Ke" means open or spread, "Nate" means and then wrap it around yourself, which is the instruction of use. The Southern Ewes eventually droped the "na" or the "a" from "ke-na-te" and as such therefore "kenate" became "kete" or "kente". The "kente/kete cloth" might be of the Ewe tribe origin.
[edit] Traditions
A variety of kente patterns have been invented, each of which has a certain concept or concepts traditionally associated with it. [citation needed] 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. [citation needed]
Similar traditional varieties of cloth are known to various tribes throughout West Africa by various names. [citation needed]In the West, these, however, are quite often all called 'kente'.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
- Akan Cloths - Part of Marshall University's 'Akan Arts' project, this site describes kente and several kente patterns
- 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.
- African Clothes and Fabrics
- Kente Weavers of Ashanti - Web video about traditional kente weaving, produced by Andy Carvin.
- Midwest Trade Group - Website trading Kente cloth stoles.
