Craftsmanship of traditional woven textile Kente

Inscribed in 2024 (19.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

In Ghana, Kente is a fabric made of strips that are woven from silk, cotton or rayon using horizontal looms. The age, social status and gender of users influence the choice of colour and design of the fabric. Finished products are named with proverbs, sayings and social situations, among others. The craft has been enriched over time through the creativity and innovation of weavers. The knowledge and skills are passed on within families, through apprenticeships with master weavers, and through high school and tertiary education institutions. Knowledge and skills are also acquired at exhibitions, museums, workshops, festivals and from literary sources. Both women and men are involved in the production process, with women being in charge primarily of weaving and producing cotton yarn and men producing the loom and other relevant tools. Each community of producers is led by a chief weaver, who is responsible for regulating the standards of production, resolving conflict among weavers, and establishing linkages and networks for knowledge acquisition and trade. Kente is a means of communication and a vehicle of information transfer and exchange. It also serves as a means of identity construction, reflecting the social histories of various communities.