Kente cloth

Kente (actually kente ) is a substance that of the members of the Akanvölker ( Ashanti, Nzima, Fanti and others) in the Ivory Coast and the Ewe in Ghana is produced and which could be previously worn only by kings. Starting material was fine cotton or silk. Since there were no local sericulture, imported the Ashanti since the 17th century silk dresses, entribbelten these clothes and so won silk for the Kentestoffe.

The finer cloths for the royal kente robes - was not allowed any weave. You put together groups skilful weavers who were in the service of kings and high-quality fabrics designed and manufactured. The weaving technique was a jealously guarded secret. All other weavers, it was forbidden to use patterns and designs that were destined exclusively for the king and the royal court. The king collected hundreds of garments to - each different in design and pattern. According to tradition he wore in public never the same garment twice.

Geometric motifs, fish, birds, fruits, leaves, sunsets, rainbows and other sights in nature aligned, brought forth an accurate down to the smallest detail weaving iconic. Although very similar externally, there are both in symbolism and in the weaving differences between Ashanti and Ewekente. Each pattern has its own name and stands for a saying or event.

For example, means the pattern " Kyeretwie " (a kente patterns Ashanti ) " The lion catcher " and recalls a legend about the time of the Asantehene ( " Aschantikönigs " ) Kwaku Dua I. Panyin in the 19th century. Allegedly, he had his men asked as bravery evidence to catch with bare hands leopard. Black lines within the pattern refer now to the spots of the leopard, etc. so that the pattern stands for valor, extraordinary success and inspired leadership.

The pattern " Abusua ye dom" from the Kentetradition the Ewe other hand stands for the saying " the Abusua ( extended family ) is a power" and refers to the family ties, the value of cohesion and cooperation.

Even today, new Kentemuster be designed, named - and renamed. So there was at the time of the first Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah a popular pattern with the name " Fathia Fata Nkrumah ", translated: " Fathia [ the wife Nkrumah ] cares about Nkrumah deserves." After the fall of the increasingly dictatorial Nkrumah, the pattern has been renamed to " Obaakofo Mmu you " ( " One Man Only ruled no nation ").

Traditional Kente weaving is produced mainly by the Ashanti and the Ewe in Ghana. In the Ashanti Region, the traditional fabrics are made in villages near the capital of the Ashanti Region, Kumasi. In Bonwire, Woonoo, Maape, Adawonmase and Ntonso many weavers work on these products. In the Volta Region of Kente cloth is produced mainly in the Kpandu region in the north of the Volta Region.

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