Kente Cloth
Click here for a clip of a young Ghanaian boy learning how to weave kente cloth
in a small factory in Kumasi.
ADWINASA
Symbolizes royalty, elegance, creative ingenuity, excellence, wealth, perfection,
and superior craftsmanship
This cloth is worn by kings and people of high status because it originally was
a combination of all Kente designs known to weavers.
OBAAKOFO MMU MAN
Symbolizes democracy and serves as a warning against autocratic rule
This represents the importance of a democracy to the Ghanaian society
SIKA FUTORO
Symbolizes wealth, royalty, elegance, spiritual purity, and honorable achievement
The yellows, oranges, and reds represent gold dust which was once the Ghanaian measure
of currency and wealth.
ABUSUA YE DOM
Symbolizes strong family bonds, the value of the family, collective work, responsibility,
and cooperation
This represents the importance of family and community to the Ghanaian culture.
EMAA DA
Symbolizes creative ingenuity, innovation, uniqueness, perfection, and achievement.
This shows the importance of knowledge and education to the people of Ghana.
TOKU KRA TOMA-
SYMBOLIZES: courageous leadership, heroic deeds, self sacrifice, spiritual vitality
and rebirth.
Meaning: Toku’s soul cloth. This cloth honors the soul of a warrior queen mother
named Toku who was defeated and executed in battle. She was viewed as a courageous
woman and was recognized for her bravery. In the past this cloth was only worn by
royalty and those of high rank during sacred ceremonies venerating sprits of the
ancestors.
WOFRO DUA PA A NA YEPIA WO
Symbolizes aspiration, sharing, mutual benefits, hope, and noble deeds
Meaning: This cloth means “one who climbs a tree worth climbing gets the help deserved.”
This cloth expressed the Akan social thought believing that any good individual
effort should be supported by the community. This reinforces the concept of aspiring
towards a worthy cause.
KYERETWIE
Symbolizes valor, courage, exceptional achievement and inspiring leadership
Meaning: This cloth means "the lion catcher." This cloth was created in honor of
the efforts made by King Kwaku Dua who tested the courage of his warriors by demanding
them to catch a live leopard. The vertical warp stripes of back represent black
spots in the leopard's fur.
AKYEMPEM
Symbolizes unity through military strength, bravery, political vigilance, military
prowess and spiritual defensiveness
Meaning: This cloth means “thousands shields.” It represents the shields used by
a militia of thousands of men and women defending the Asante Kingdom against external
aggression. Shields are now used in royal ceremonies to honor the skill of the Asante
Kingdom.
NYANKONTON
Symbolizes divine beauty, divine creativity, gracefulness, uniqueness and good omen.
Meaning: “God’ eye brow (the rainbow).” The arrangements of the threads mimic the
characteristics of the rainbow.