Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
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 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 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 …
This pair of narrow strip woven woman’s kente cloths were created by Ewe weaver Emmanuel Manayo. It features a common contrasting colour block ‘Takpekpele anloga’ design. The name references the town of Anloga, capital of the Anlo area, where the design originates from. There are examples of this design dating back to 1906. Purchased directly Read More …
This narrow strip woven kente cloth was created by Ewe weaver David Agbenyau. It is an example of the popular ‘Asidanuvor’ or design cloth, that feature symbols, motifs and animals. This example shows how the technique has been adapted to speed up the production, which means that quality and detail have been lost in the Read More …
This narrow strip kente cloth was created by Ewe weaver Edem Joshua Galley. It is an example of the ever popular ‘Asidanuvor’ or design cloths, that feature symbols, motifs and animals. It also includes ‘Togodo’ or fence design, that runs diagonally, criss-crossing the cloth and that ‘encloses’ the motifs and animals. It is a large Read More …