Akans refer to kente as nwentoma meaning woven cloth. The design of kente cloth features many geometric patterns and each pattern has a specific meaning relating to the history or beliefs of the ashanti people.
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Below are the kente cloth weave patterns that you may find on kente cloths.
Kente cloth patterns and meanings. Kente cloth designs vary with the different designs colors and patterns each having their own special meanings and stories. Kente cloth is native to the ewe and ashanti people of ghana with origins dating back to around the 12 th century but its patterns are still worn and enjoyed all over the world. The kente cloth is made in different styles colors and patterns.
Every design has its own meaning. Over time the use of kente became more widespread. Historically kente cloth is the attire of royalty originating from ghana.
Each piece of kente cloth is given a unique name which has historical and philosophical importance. Buy kente graduation stoles. Almost every ghanaian has a garment of kente cloth.
The patterns are created during the hand weaving process and are determined by the manner in which the threads are intertwined. These are different from adinkra symbols and kente cloth colors which also carry their own symbolism. Kente cloth is one of the african most popular and beloved pieces of clothes.
This hand woven fabric is used in both male and female clothing but the patterns and colors differ according to gender status and region of africa. These designs have symbolic meaning which are adapted from the ancient ashanti tradition and culture. It creates a quintessential african look.
Tradition of kente cloth patterns is the representation of complex meanings with the aid of designs. Below are some popular patterns the meaning of these kente cloth motifs patterns and what they represent. 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.
Kente cloth is a beautiful traditional cloth or textile from west africa rich in meaning and symbolism. Although you might now know the name the kente cloth is used globally. Kente comes from the word kenten which means basket in the asante dialect of akan.
The unmistakable blends of colored threads woven together into beautiful patterns is the hallmark of kente cloth. It is an akan royal and sacred cloth worn only in times of extreme importance and was the cloth of kings. The kente fabric is made of inter woven silk fabric.
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. Before becoming a master weaver a person must learn the meanings of all of the patterns and how to create them. There are over 350 patterns for kente cloths.
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