Kente Cloth Patterns

							Kente Cloth Patterns
 Fabric Patterns From Africa
       By Ken Schwager
Kente cloth is a type of
traditional fabric that is woven
by hand in Africa.

Most Kente weavers are Men.

By age twelve, most boys begin
helping their fathers by weaving
Kente cloth after school.
Every pattern in Kente cloth has its
own “story” that is told through the
colors used, the pattern woven and
the symbolism.
Some Kente designs are very
traditional and others are quite
contemporary.
The Kente loom
is made from
wood. The
weaver sits
inside the loom
and controls it
with his hands
and feet.
Weavers often work together at outdoor
looms, weaving from sunrise to sunset.
This has been the tradition of their
families for hundreds of years.
Kente cloth
is woven into
long, narrow
pieces, then
cut into strips
and sewn
together to make a broad cloth,
sometimes as large as twelve feet
in width.
Historically, Kente was considered
the cloth of Kings.

Over time, the use of Kente became
more widespread.

When Kente is proudly worn or used
on ceremonial occasions, it brings
honor and prestige to the event.
Kente cloth is worn by
both women and men.
Kente is made by the Asante and
Ewe peoples of Ghana. It is the best
known of all African textiles.

Kente comes from the word “kenten”,
which means “basket.” The Asante
peoples also refer to Kente as
“nwentoma” or “woven cloth.”

The origins of Kente patterns date
back to 12th century Africa, in the
country of Ghana.
Most Kente designs
are woven directly
into the pattern.

Some Kente cloth is
made by stamping
the design in
intricate patterns.
The End