The Committee

1. Takes note that Ghana has nominated Craftsmanship of traditional woven textile Kente (No. 02130) for inscription 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.

2. Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

R.1:   Kente is a fabric made of strips that are woven from silk, cotton or rayon using horizontal, double or triple heddle looms. The practitioners and bearers include masters and apprentices of established families of weavers. Every community of producers is led by chief weavers. Both women and men are involved in the production of kente. The knowledge and skills related to the practice are transmitted within families and formally through high school and tertiary education institutions. Master weavers enrol apprentices who are interested in learning the craft. Knowledge and skills are also transmitted at exhibitions, museums, workshops and festivals. Kente is a means of communication and information exchange. The element serves as a means of identity and social status construction, and reflects the social histories of various communities in Ghana.

R.2:   The element contributes to various aspects of sustainable development including health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, inclusive economic development, peace and social cohesion. The element encourages lifelong learning for its practitioners. It contributes to gender equality as men and women share roles throughout the production and marketing process. The local and international demand for Kente contributes economically to Ghana’s tourism sector and provides jobs for men and women. Community mobilization around the element promotes cohesion and peace. The community voices featured in the ten-minute video provide good explanations of the links between the element and several aspects of sustainable development.

R.3:   Several proposed safeguarding measures were highlighted in the file. These include creating regional platforms to promote and preserve Kente weaving through museum exhibitions, workshops for practitioners and communities, festivals and trade fairs. The element is also incorporated in the formal education system at the high school and tertiary levels. Other measures include encouraging private-public partnerships, instituting a publication series to raise awareness about the element, and creating craft families, cooperatives and associations. The element is used in traditional outfits during State events and on television programmes, and Ghana’s Cultural Policy supports the safeguarding of the element.

R.4:   The idea to inscribe the element was initiated by the artisans, bearers, practitioners, communities and government agencies. Meetings were held with researchers and experts where the necessary information was collected in the form of documents, discussions and also through interviews. Communities participated actively in meetings held with researchers and experts to discuss the nomination file and how to improve the safeguarding measures. Letters of support for the element’s inscription were submitted as part of the nomination file.

R.5:   The element is included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ghana National Register. The inventory is managed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the National Folklore Board. The file explains that communities and relevant stakeholders are involved in the compilation of the National Register. The periodic report submitted in 2023 provides the updating frequency and information about the inventorying process, which includes community-based inventorying.

3. Decides to inscribe Craftsmanship of traditional woven textile Kente on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
4. Commends the State Party on its first inscription and further commends it for producing a good quality video.