The Timeless Elegance of Kente: More Than Just a Fabric
Adama Ekwueme
June 15, 2024
Kente, known as nwentoma in Akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan ethnic group of South Ghana. Kente is made in Akan lands such as the Ashanti Kingdom, including the towns of Bonwire, Adanwomase, Sakora Wonoo, and Ntonso in the Kwabre areas of the Ashanti Region.
The Colors Tell a Story
Every color in a Kente cloth has a specific meaning:
- Black: maturation, intensified spiritual energy
- Blue: peacefulness, harmony and love
- Green: vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, spiritual renewal
- Gold: royalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual purity
- Red: political and spiritual moods; bloodshed; sacrificial rites and death.
When you wear Kente, you're not just wearing a beautiful garment; you're draped in a story, a history, and a powerful form of communication.