Kente Wrapper (Early 1960s)

Class: Textiles – Woven
Medium: Cotton
Dimensions: W. 66 in. × H. 41 in. (167 cm × 105 cm)

Description: This textile is Kente cloth, a ceremonial fabric originating from the Asante and Ewe peoples of Ghana. Constructed from narrow woven strips sewn together, its grid-like structure and repeated linear motifs reflect balance, order, and continuity. The warm color palette—reds, oranges, and neutrals—carries symbolic meaning: red signifies strength and sacrifice, while yellow and orange tones represent wealth, vitality, and fertility. Kente patterns are traditionally executed using strip weaving on narrow looms, often with silk or cotton and supplementary weft techniques to create intricate motifs, followed by hand-sewing the strips together. Contemporary interpretations may use jacquard weaving, embroidery, appliqué, screen printing, or digital textile printing to recreate the geometric rhythms of Kente while adapting the design for modern fashion and educational contexts.

(The British Museum Website)