Adanwomase Kente Weavers Name Traditional Cloth After President Akufo Addo

The leadership of the Adanwomase Kente Weavers and Sellers Association has woven and named a new kente cloth after President Akufo Addo. The cloth named "Oseade3yo Akufo Addo" according to the Secretary of the Association, Kwame Nyame, is in recognition of the President's fulfillment of three of his several campaign promises.

The campaign promises identified by the Association include the introduction of the Free Senior High School Programme, the restoration of the teachers and nurses trainee allowance and the institutionalization of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to fight corruption. The association while presenting the new cloth to the President indicated that they are hopeful that the gesture will propel the President on to fulfill the rest of his campaign promises to the Ghanaian people. 

Potential of the Kente Weaving Market

In his speech, the Association Secretary observed that the kente weaving industry is a potential source of jobs for the youth of the country. He urged the President as part of his government's One District, One Factory Policy, to give considerable attention to kente weaving. 

President Akufo Addo

Addressing leaders and members of the Adanwomase Kente Weavers and Sellers Association at the Jubilee House when they paid a courtesy call on him, President Akufo Addo was full of gratitude for the kind gesture of the Association. He assured that he will, through the appropriate officials of his administration, give the kente industry all the attention it deserves.

The Kente Cloth and Adanwomase

The Kente cloth, known as ‘’nwentoma’’ in Akan, is a type of cloth made from silk and cotton fabric, interwoven into strips and is native to the Akan ethnic group of southern Ghana. The cloth originates from the Ashanti Kingdom, and has been adopted by the people of La Cote d’Ivoire and many other West African countries.

Mention kente in Ghana and two towns readily come to mind: Bonwire and Adanwomase. Though the two towns are not far from each other, they are located in two different districts in the Ashanti Region and have rivalled each other over which of the two possesses the skill and prowess to weave the best kente in the country.

Though Bonwire is the more popular and known area of the two for kente weaving, probably because the name has been used in the lyrics, Adanwomase is another town which also prides itself to be the best. It is the trade of almost the entire community. Adanwomase is located in the Kwabre East District and is about 27 kilometres northeast of Kumasi with about 5,500 residents. It is situated about six kilometres away from Ntonso, another town within the Kwabre East district known for its ‘Adinkra’. Aside farming, the main occupation of the residents is kente weaving; a skill that most of the residents say is innate and only needs polishing from the professionals.

Credit:  Wilberforce A. Asare