Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
This suit was made for writer Akila Monika Richards by a Ghanaian seamstress based in the UK. She describes the suit and what it meant to her: ‘After my son was born in 1986 and settling into our new family It became increasingly important to connect with my West African heritage. Living in London at Read More …
This narrow strip woven women’s kente cloth was made by an unknown Ewe weaver. This type of cloth is called ‘Sasa’, mixed cloth or patchwork. These cloths are made up of different coloured stripes of narrowstrip woven cloth and most of the examples that make up this cloth use the ‘Kpevi’ or two stones technique. Read More …
This blouse is part of a women’s kaba outfit. A kaba and slit is a two or three piece outfit worn by Ghanaian women, consisting of a fitted blouse with wide sleeves, a wrapper skirt, and sometimes a matching headwrap. This blouse is made from narrow woven kente strips, hand stitched together, and then tailored Read More …
This is a narrow strip woven rayon kente cloth. This type of cloth is known as ‘Titriku’ or thick cloth, and always features a square block design. It is a very popular cloth design that has been woven in the Agotime region since at least the early 20th century. This example was woven at a Read More …
This men’s narrow strip woven rayon kente cloth, made by twins Fred and Richmond Akpo, is an Adanouvor or design cloth. It features motifs such as sankofa (bird looking back), tortoises, people, and geckos. This is a copy of the Akpos’ cloth that won them the 2016 Agotime Kpetoe Kente Festival weaving and design competition. Read More …
This men’s narrow strip woven kente cloth was made by Ewe weaver John Kwasi Dometi in 1980. This type of cloth is called ‘Worgbale’, or python skin. The cloth was owned by Jonathan ‘Old Man Young Boy’ Akakpo, and was created for him by the weaver who was father to Esther Dometi, Jonathan’s late wife. Read More …
This batakari shirt was purchased by Sylvanus Akakpo in 2002, in Tamale in the northern region of Ghana, whilst he was attending a West Africa Network For Peace training event in the town. A batakari or Ghanaian Smock is a plaid shirt, made from hand woven strips that are sewn together and tailored into a Read More …
This narrow strip woven kente cloth was created by Ewe weaver Bokorkpo Yawo in 1957. It is usually difficult to find well provenanced older cloths, but fortunately the owner, Dometi Delali, supplied the museum with a detailed history. The age is also of significance as it was created the year Ghana gained independence from British Read More …
This narrow strip woven kente cloth was created by Ewe weaver Exodus Hallo. It was especially commissioned for Nene Akoto Sah VII to wear at the Agotime Kpetoe Kente Festival, an important annual event for Ewe people. Nene Akoto, whose given name is Emmanuel Tetteh, is a respected war chief and prominent member of society. Read More …
This narrow strip woven kente cloth was created by Ewe weaver Gator Gbogbo. This asidanuvor or design cloth characteristically features motifs, people and animals woven into the strips. It features a map of Ghana, depicting regions and main cities. This type of design is believed to have developed in Togo, where Gbogbo was working in Read More …