What is the true meaning of the kente cloth?

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 so special?

Kente cloth is special on many levels. Around the world, the unique patterns and colors are easily identifiable as a representation of West African culture. This gives each Kente design its own unique, symbolic value. Kente cloth may symbolize the wearer’s status or mark a festive occasion.

Is Kente a Nigerian?

Though it originated from Ghana, kente has become a staple in stylish men and women’s wardrobe. The kente fabric is used to make stunning styles and designs for men and women. And the fact that it comes in bright and fascinating colours is an added advantage.

What tribe is the kente cloth from?

Asante
Kente cloth comes from the Asante, or Ashanti, peoples of Ghana and Ewe peoples of Ghana and Togo. A popular legend claims creators of kente cloth presented the cloth to Asantehene Osei Tutu, the Asante kingdom’s first leader.

Who wears a kente stole?

A Kente Graduation Celebration, also sometimes known as a Sankofa Ceremony, is a pre-commencement ceremony practiced in the United States, typically by African-American students graduating from high school or college, where participants are presented with a Kente stole to be worn over their gown during the graduation …

How is kente a symbol of pride?

Historians have traced it back to the 9th Century A.D., Kusimba said. The Asante (Ashanti) and Ewe cultures in West Africa are known for their creation of the cloth. Formerly the garb only of royalty, kente cloth is worn today by many people who regard it as a symbol of African pride and dignity, Kusimba said.

Who brought kente to Ghana?

The origins of the Kente cloth go back 400 years to West Africa, in what is now modern day Ghana. While its invention is often attributed to the people of the Ashanti Tribe, the Kente cloth may have instead been invented by the people in the Ewe Tribe, who later shared the tradition with the Ashanti.

What does the name kente mean?

Kente is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan tribe in Ghana. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means basket in Akan dialect Asante. Akans refer to kente as nwentoma, meaning woven cloth.

How is Kente a symbol of pride?

Can anyone wear a stole?

A graduation stole can be worn by someone who was the leader, or an active member of, a prestigious academic organization, or even those who were part of a sorority or fraternity while in college. There are also stoles of gratitude. A graduation stole or stole of gratitude is also commonly referred to as a “sash.”

Who brought Kente to Ghana?

Can anyone wear a kente stole?

While any high school or college student qualifies to wear a Kente stole at their graduation, the display should hold a deep, personal significance for the wearer. Stoles were first used by the Catholic clergy in the 12th century, worn to distinguish rank or promotion within their hierarchy.

Where does the word Kente come from in Ghana?

Kente comes from the word kenten, which means “basket” in the Asante dialect of the Akan language, referencing its basket-like pattern. In Ghana, the Akan ethnic group also refers to kente as nwentoma, meaning “woven cloth”.

Where does the fabric Kente come from in Africa?

Kente fabric is also produced by Akan groups in Cote d’Ivoire, like the Baoule and Anyin, who trace their ancestry back to Ghana before the rise of the Ashanti Empire. It is the best known of all African textiles. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means “basket”.

What do people in Ghana use Kente cloth for?

Kente may be used as a special gift item during such ceremonies as child naming, graduation, or marriage. It may also be used as a symbol of respect for the departed during funerals and ancestral remembrance ceremonies. In Ghana, kente cloth is made by the Akan people (including the Asante, Bono, Fante and Nzema).

How is Kente cloth related to adinkra cloth?

Kente cloth is closely related to Adinkra cloth, which has symbols stenciled into cloth and is associated with mourning. Kente cloth is made from thin strips about 4 centimeters thick woven together on narrow looms, typically by men.