Kente Cloth

This is a photo of several different colored shuttles to be used in Kente Cloth weaving.

This is one of the colors loaded in the shuttle that the weavers use.  There is a very thin piece of wood that goes through the center of the spool of thread and a small hole on one side where the thread comes out.  You can see the thread protruding from the hole at the bottom of the shuttle.  The thread will be tied to the long strands of the loom and then the weaver weaves back and forth horizontally to make the beautiful designs.

This is a Kente loom.  The view is from the weavers seat.  You can see the threads stretch out about 50 yards in front of the loom.  They make the cloth in strips of about 5 x 60".  They will then sew strips together to make a larger piece for clothing, bedspreads, table cloths or blankets.

These men are all kente weavers.  They have a nice shady spot they made by putting up posts and then fastening pieces of corrugated tin to the top.  There were four men working under this particular shelter.

This is a beautiful display of Kente cloth that is for sale.  Kente cloth is a specialty cloth made here in Ghana.  We pass many of the shops where this cloth is sold each Sunday on our way to our Branch in Agona.

This man is a Kente Cloth weaver.  Kente cloth is a special cloth made by hand here in Ghana.  Its made on a loom by shuttling a wooden bobbin back and forth by hand in front of the weaver.  Each design represents something different.  The first cloth was woven in the 1700's.  Its a very durable cloth and is used for many things including the heavy robes worn by the men of Ghana.  This particular piece is being made especially for the King.  This piece will not be duplicated or ever be for sale.  The weaver told me it will take him 8 months to complete the piece he is making.