Kente cloth

At the cultural center on the outskirts of Kumasi, there were 3 fellows weaving kente cloth on basic handmade looms.  You have probably seen the cloth -- strips about 10 to 15 cm wide are woven in patterns that include a lot of red and yellow.  For a formal garment, many strips are sewed together to create a large rectangle that is worn.  The men who were doing the weaving were thrilled to get the postcards from the US that we have been passing out.  And we bought a couple of strips before moving on.

Later when we were driving in the countryside (following some suggestions from Lonely Planet), we came across a worn sign for a kente cloth demonstrations a few kilometers away.  Down a rutted road, and after a couple of small villages, we found another sign and turned in.  We were offered a tour of a cocoa tree grove (more later) and the kente cloth weaving facilities.

Altogether there were about 30 men weaving in 3 sections -- each subsequent section requiring additional skill.  In the first section the weave pattern was basic for a while, then a flat board was inserted beyond the headels to open a specific shed for a pattern.  In the second, threads were hand placed, and in the third, threads were hand placed and locked around one another.  (This is better seen than described.)  We were told that women could not weave because they would have trouble with childbirth.

The patterns were excellent, and we bought a couple more pieces, each 2 meters long.  Will gave them a donation, and they gave him a framed piece of kente cloth as an acknowledgment.  For future reference, they arrange home stays, village tours, and longer visits....