Kente: Ghana’s woven archive

Colour, geometry and named patterns make kente one of Africa’s most recognisable textile traditions.

By Culture & Screen Desk · Nollywood, lifestyle and cultural reporting · 2 min read

A Kente cloth stall displaying vivid handwoven patterns as a textile seller serves a customer — Image supplied to Na Wetin Dey Happen

Kente is woven in strips, especially within Asante and Ewe traditions in Ghana. Patterns and colour combinations can carry names, proverbs and historical associations, making the cloth more than decoration.

Its global visibility has produced both appreciation and mass imitation. Respectful use begins with acknowledging Ghanaian makers and understanding that ceremonial cloth has specific social histories.

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Culture & Screen Desk

The Culture & Screen Desk reports African film, food, dress and living traditions with attention to makers, local meaning, labour and change.

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