Kente refers to a Ghanaian textile made of hand-woven strips of silk and cotton.[1] Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion among the Asante, Akan and Ewe people. According to Asante oral tradition, it originated from Bonwire in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. In modern day Ghana, the wearing of kente cloth has become widespread to commemorate special occasions, and kente brands led by master weavers are in high demand.
Due to the popularity of kente[2] cloth patterns, production of mass-produced prints with the kente patterns have become popular throughout West Africa, and by extension the whole of Africa. Globally, the print is used in the design of academic stoles in graduation ceremonies.[3]
- ^ Anquandah, James; Kankpeyeng, Benjamin (2014). Current Perspectives in the Archaeology of Ghana. African Books Collective. ISBN 978-9988-8602-6-4.
- ^ "Letter from Africa: Kente - the Ghanaian cloth that's on the catwalk". BBC News. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ Boateng, Boatema (2011). The copyright thing doesn't work here: Adinkra and Kente cloth and intellectual property in Ghana. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-7679-8. OCLC 741751637.