KENTE!

Mhlengi Mafu 

A kente is a hand woven vibrant textile with geometric patterns and bright colours traditionally made by the Akan people of Ghana. 

It is known for it’s rich history, cultural significance and symbolic meaning embedded in  it’s design and colours. A kente is more than just cloth it is a symbol of identity, history and cultural heritage for the Akan people and is often used in special occasions and ceremonies. 

The colours and patterns in Kente cloth carry a specific meaning reflecting Asante philosophy, social status, historical events, and moral values. The Kente weaving process is a traditional craft with knowledge and skills passed down through families and apprenticeship. Both men and women are involved in the process and they participate with women primarily involved in weaving. Men are usually involved in the creating the loops in this entire process. 

While traditionally worn toga-style, Kente is now used in a variety of ways, including clothing and accessories and home decor. It has also become a symbol of African identity and pride particularly in the African diaspora. The patterns of a Kente highlight the importance of an African tradition and fashion. The continent has started embracing it’s own fashion and African prints continue to take over throughout the continent. 

Various African countries are now seeing the beauty of other African cultures and have began experimenting and exploring unique African prints from other African nations. This increases African identity and pride when other nations start to explore each others patterns and prints. This has often happened in traditional weddings also in award ceremonies. African artists have also started taking pride in their own culture by wearing traditional African prints and patterns when they are in countries like the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom and other countries. While traveling different African prints are seen in various international airports. 

The Kente is now seen being worn in other countries when others are getting married. Ghanaian prints, Nigerian Prints Losotho prints and South African prints are seen in different countries throughout the continent of course each country having different tribes and each tribe having it’s own print. However the Kente is one of those prints that seem to stand out within the African diaspora. 

Inside Emmanuel and Mabel’s wedding Kente’s designed by Nabea Kente. They specialise in quality hand women traditional Kente inspired by tradition and elegance. Their bespoke services are tailor made for clients and to accentuate the needs of a client beyond expectations. The justice they did for Emmanuel and Mabel “can never be undone” and they also understood the assignment as always. Their clients looked elegant and timeless which also took social media by storm. For traditional events  South African events as Umembeso, Umabo or maybe just maybe being invited to any of the events. Would you consider this ? Another side of it is, will you and your wife consider a Kente for your traditional wedding ? Let us know.