kente.htm

HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF GHANA'S KENTE CLOTH

Kente is an Asante ceremonial cloth hand-woven on a horizontal treadle loom. Strips measuring about 4 inches wide are sewn together into larger pieces of cloths. Cloths come in various colors, sizes and designs and are worn during very important social and religious occasions.

In a total cultural context, kente is more important than just a cloth. It is a visual representation of history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, religious beliefs, political thought and aesthetic principles.

Many variations of narrow-strip cloths, similar to Kente are woven by various ethnic groups in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa.

Adwinasa It was in the past, worn by kings and people of high status and wealth
OBAAKOFO MMU MAN Literally means "one person does not rule a nation." It expresses the Akan system of governance based on participatory democracy. SIKA FUTORO Literally means "gold dust." Before the use of coins and paper as money, gold dust, was used as a medium of exchange among Akan peoples.

ABUSUA YE DOM Literally means "the extended family is a force." Among the Akan peoples, the extended family is the foundation of society.
EMAA DA Literally means "it has not happened before" or "it has no precedence." The cloth was therefore reserved for the exclusive use of the King, but its use was later extended to people of high ranks. TOKU KRA TOMA Literally means Toku's soul cloth. The cloth is designed and named to commemorate the soul of a warrior Queenmother who was was viewed as a courageous woman.

WOFRO DUA PA A NA YEPIA WO
Literally means "one who climbs a tree worth climbing gets the help deserved." The cloth was designed to express the Akan social thought which maintains that any good individual effort deserves to be supported by the community. KYERETWIE Literally means "the lion catcher." The cloth was designed to commemorate an incident during the reign of King Kwaku Dua
who tested the courage of his warriors by ordering them to catch a leopard alive. AKYEMPEM Literally means "thousands shields." This is a reference to shields used by highly well organized militia who defended the Asante Kingdom against external aggression.

information from the following web site: http://users.erols.com/kemet/kente.htm

more Kente designs

Adwinasa It was in the past, worn by kings and people of high status and wealth	OBAAKOFO MMU MAN Literally means "one person does not rule a nation." It expresses the Akan system of governance based on participatory democracy.	SIKA FUTORO Literally means "gold dust." Before the use of coins and paper as money, gold dust, was used as a medium of exchange among Akan peoples.
ABUSUA YE DOM Literally means "the extended family is a force." Among the Akan peoples, the extended family is the foundation of society.	EMAA DA Literally means "it has not happened before" or "it has no precedence." The cloth was therefore reserved for the exclusive use of the King, but its use was later extended to people of high ranks.	TOKU KRA TOMA Literally means Toku's soul cloth. The cloth is designed and named to commemorate the soul of a warrior Queenmother who was was viewed as a courageous woman.
WOFRO DUA PA A NA YEPIA WO Literally means "one who climbs a tree worth climbing gets the help deserved." The cloth was designed to express the Akan social thought which maintains that any good individual effort deserves to be supported by the community.	KYERETWIE Literally means "the lion catcher." The cloth was designed to commemorate an incident during the reign of King Kwaku Dua who tested the courage of his warriors by ordering them to catch a leopard alive.	AKYEMPEM Literally means "thousands shields." This is a reference to shields used by highly well organized militia who defended the Asante Kingdom against external aggression.