The Ghana Kente Evolution

By Richard Antwi-Boasiako

The evolution of the Ghana Bonwire Kente cloth. The meanings of the cloth names, the design names, and the colors used in Kente cloth weaving. The evolution of the Kente cloth from being a Royal cloth to being a cloth for all and for all occasions. The traditional and contemporary views on the Ghana Bonwire Kente cloth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Antw-Boasiako
• Release date: Oct 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9780578779751

Book preview

The Ghana Kente Evolution

The evolution of the Ghana Bonwire Kente cloth. The meanings of the cloth names, the design names, and the colors used in Kente cloth weaving.

Richard Antwi-Boasiako

Published by Richard Antwi-Boasiako, 2020.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

––––––––

The Ghana Kente Evolution

Copyright © 2020 Richard Antwi-Boasiako

[e-mail]

First edition. September 11, 2020.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any manner whatsoever, or stored in any information storage system, without the prior written consent of the author, except in the case of  brief quotations with proper reference,  embodied in critical articles and reviews.

EISBN: 978-0578779751

ISBN:   978-0578779744

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020919906

Written by Richard Antwi-Boasiako.

The Ghana Kente Evolution

Dedication

My loving wife

Dr. Hermina Antwi-Boasiako

Our loving children

Richard Antwi-Boasiako

Leslie Antwi-Boasiako

Rachel Antwi-Boasiako

Acknowledgement

I thank my sisters-in-law Gladys Ofori, a teacher in Schenectady, New York and Paulina Mensah, a Nurse Practitioner in Houston, Texas for proofreading this book and correcting all my archaic grammar.

I thank my daughter Rachel Antwi-Boasiako and my wife Dr. Hermina Antwi-Boasiako for checking all my sentences to make them more contemporary.

I also thank my late uncles Wofa Boateng and Wofa Sefa, both master weavers who introduced me to Kente weaving at a tender age of seven.

Finally, I thank my parents Samuel Kwame Antwi-Boasiako/Susana Owusua and my siblings for all the history lessons on our roots, especially the ones on our journey from Bonwire to Konongo to Asuom to Okyinso.

"The old order changeth, yielding place to new,

And God fulfills himself in many ways,

Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.

Comfort thyself: what comfort is in me?

I have lived my life, and that which I have done

May he within himself make pure! but thou,

If thou shouldst never see my face again,

Pray for my soul.

More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."

A quote from The Passing of Arthur .

By Alfred Tennyson

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1

Kente Cloth History

Chapter 2

Kente Cloth Loom

Chapter 3

Kente Cloth Colors

Chapter 4

Kente Cloth Patterns

Chapter 5

Kente Cloth Names - Traditional

Chapter 6

Kente Cloth Names - Contemporary

Chapter 7

Kente Cloth – Adinkra Symbols

Chapter 8

Kente Cloth - Other Uses

Chapter 9

Kente Cloth and Foreigners

Chapter 10

Kente Cloth Weaving – Future

Preface

A close up of a flag Description automatically generated

Kente cloth has been woven in

Reviews for The Ghana Kente Evolution

[ornella Sathoud · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book to learn about Kente cloth and the meaning of the patterns