Kente is the ancient traditional cloth of the Asanti and other peoples in West Africa, woven in narrow strips in a variety of designs each with symbolic meaning.
Ghana Crafts Tours: Kente Cloth Weaving
Kente cloth is a prestigious garment worn for ceremonial occasions, by chiefs, Kings, and heads of state.
According to tradition, Bonwire was one of the five Kente centres founded by exiles from Denkyira, who settled around Kumasi after their people were conquered by the Ashanti in the late 17th century. Another legend is that the people of Bonwire learnt to weave by watching a spider weave its web. Narrow strip cloth found elsewhere in West Africa has been dated to the 11th century.
As they were very skilful weavers they were forbidden to sell cloth to anyone without the king’s permission.
You can see Kente Weaving and try it for yourself on an Ashanti Crafts Tour.
