Fashion
Kente Cloth: All you need to know about Ghana’s gift to the world
Kente fabric is a handwoven craft and requires a lot of skill, creativity and dedication. Here’s all to know about the famous fabric.
What is Kente?
Kente is a ceremonial cloth hand-woven on a horizontal treadle loom. It comes in strips measuring about 4 inches wide and sewn together into larger pieces of cloth. It comes in a variety of colours and different designs.
The word “Kente” comes from the word “kenten”, which means basket.
Kente is more than a clothing item, it is a visual representation of history philosophy, ethics, oral literature religious beliefs and political thought.
What tradition says about Kente
According to tradition kente is reserved for a special occasion, it is not meant to be used for common places or daily activities or as ordinary wear.
It can also be used as a special gift item or clothing item used for rites of passage such a child naming, puberty rites invitations, graduations, marriage ceremony, soul washing, burial and ancestral remembrance ceremonies.
Kente is used not only for its beauty but also for its symbolic significance
Origin of Kente
The origin of Kente cloth is explained partly with a legend and partly with historical account, coming from two important towns in Asante Region of Ghana, namely Bonwire and Adawomase.
A legend has it that a man named Ota Karaban and his friend Kwaku Ameyaw from the town of Bonwire (now the leading Kente weaving centre in Ashanti) learned the art of weaving by observing a spider weaving its web. Taking a cue from the spider, they wove a strip of raffia fabric and later improved upon their skill.
They reported their discovery to their chief Nana Bobie, who in turn reported it to the Asantehene (The Ashanti Chief) at that time. The Asantehene adopted it as a royal cloth and encouraged its development as a cloth of prestige reserved for special occasions
Names and meanings
Each of the cloth has a name and a meaning. These names and meanings are derived from historical events, individual achievements, proverbs, philosophical concepts, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, human behaviour, and certain attributes of plant and animals life.
Current significance of Kente
Kente has achieved tremendous international recognition and has become one of the tangible manifestations of an ever-growing sense of Pan Africanism.
Kente is more widely recognized as one of the shinning strands which make up the colourful cultural fabric of our global village.
pulse.com
In the bustling streets of Accra, braided crowns, coiled Afros, and beaded locks are more than fashion statements. They are living testaments to heritage, resilience, and identity.
The Afro, which rose to prominence in the 1960s and 70s, was more than a hairstyle. It became a symbol of defiance against Eurocentric beauty standards and a proud declaration of Black identity.
But the story of African hair stretches back centuries. Ancient carvings from Egypt depict intricate braids and cornrows, styles that carried messages of social status, age, and even spirituality. Across West Africa, beads and cowrie shells were woven into hair, turning each head into a canvas of culture and artistry.
“Hair was never just hair,” says cultural historian Ama Ofori. “It was a language, a way of telling the world who you were and where you came from.”
Colonial rule attempted to suppress these traditions, branding natural hair as ‘unruly.’ Yet, generations later, the revival of the Afro and traditional styles has reclaimed that narrative. Today, braids, twists, and Afros are celebrated on runways, in music videos, and on city streets worldwide.
For many young Africans, embracing natural hair is both a fashion choice and a way of honouring ancestors while shaping modern identity. “When I wear my Afro,” says student and stylist Efua Mensah, “I feel connected to history. It’s not just style, it’s strength.”
As the global fashion industry increasingly embraces African-inspired looks, the Afro reminds us that beauty is not only about trends. It is about heritage, pride, and the stories carried in every strand.
By Beatrice Wornovi
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AS Ghana Month unfolds this March, the streets and schools are alive with colour, fabric, and nostalgia. Old-school outfits, once everyday wear, have returned as proud symbols of heritage, reminding Ghanaians of the artistry woven into their past.
From the crisp secondary school uniforms of the 1970s to the bold kaba and slit styles worn by mothers and aunties, these outfits carry stories of discipline, elegance, and identity. The Afro style, paired with bell-bottom trousers or neatly pressed shirts, were once the hallmark of youthful rebellion and confidence.
Traditional fabrics like Kente and Smock remain central to Ghanaian fashion. Once reserved for chiefs and ceremonies, they now appear in classrooms, offices, and parades during Ghana Month, symbolising unity and pride.
“When I wear my Smock, I feel connected to my roots,” says Kwame Asare, a teacher in Tamale. “It is more than clothing; it is history stitched into fabric,” he added.
Old-school fashion also tells the story of Ghana’s social evolution. The platform shoes and polka-dot dresses of the 1980s reflected global influences, while braided hairstyles and headscarves kept tradition alive. Today, young designers are reimagining these looks, blending vintage cuts with modern flair.
For many, dressing in old-school outfits during Ghana Month is not about nostalgia. It is a way of honouring ancestors, celebrating resilience, and teaching the next generation that fashion is culture.
“Our clothes remind us where we come from,” says stylist Efua Mensah. “They are our crown, our pride, and our story.”
As Ghana celebrates its independence and heritage this month, the revival of old-school outfits proves that fashion is never just about trends. It is about memory, identity, and the timeless threads that bind a nation together.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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