Information About Kente Cloth

A Kente cloth is a type of fabric that is native to the West African country of Ghana. A Kente cloth's color and design have different meanings and the cloth is used by tribal groups in Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Togo.

History

Samples of the Kente cloth date back more than 700 years ago to the 11th century. The Kente orginates with the Akan people and was only worn in times of great importance.

Features

The Kente is made of silk which are interwoven cloth strips. Strips are four inches long and sewn together to make larger pieces of cloth to be worn.

Types

There are 12 different colors Kente cloth is made from and more than 300 different designs for the Kente cloth. The different collors and designs all have different meanings.

Identification

Kente cloths are unique and identified by their bright colors, different patterns, shapes and different designs.

Fun Fact

Kente cloth designs have been worn on the uniforms of Georgetown University athletic teams since 1994.

References

• African Journey: Kente Cloth
• Akan Kente Cloths and Motifs
• The World's Most Dangerous Basketball Team

Resources

• craftspeople