GHANA, MID 20TH CENTURY

Kente cloths are colorful, highly patterned, strip woven fabric with deep historical and cultural significance to the Asante and Ewe peoples of Ghana. The cloth is woven on narrow looms in strips of about 3 to 5 inches wide and 5 to 6 feet long, then sewn together into larger pieces for wear in ceremonies, festivals and other important occasions. The selection of color, pattern, decoration and composition in a Kente cloth is highly symbolic and a cloth can be read to represent proverbs, traditional sayings, historical events, religious beliefs and political thoughts.