Artwork : ArchiveNo00168

Kente Cloth 2006

ContributionForm
Contributor Name	Mabel Maginn
Contributor Image	00168_Mabel_photo.jpg
Profession
Location	Waterlooville
Collection Date	21.09.08 3.15pm
Artefact Name	Kente Cloth
Artefact Description	Made of cotton, the design in called ‘Fatia’. Two geometric patterns – one with small check squares – orange and green. The second pattern is made of stripes in burgundy, cream and gold. Natural dye has been used. 3 x 2m Good condition.
Artefact Date	2006
Artefact Stored	In suitcase in wardrobe
Artefact Form
Artefact Image	00168_kente.jpg
Sample Taken	Cotton from edge of material.
Sample Image
History of Artefact	The Kente garment dates back four hundred years. Originating in Ghana, kings and queens would wear them in ceremony. The men would wear them as a toga, the women would wear them as a skirt. Worn today by anyone who can afford them. This particular pattern was worn by the president of Ghana in the 1960s – Kwami Nkrumah. His wife also wore this pattern – her name was Fatia – hence the name of the design. The design symbolised the union of Eqypt and Ghana. The colours represent various things – the green represents plant forms, the gold represents wealth and royalty and the maroon represents the earth. ‘It was bought from a market in my home town in Ghana.’
Historian
Previous Owners	None
Special Memories	‘I wear it and it reminds me of my identity. I would wear it as a shawl to parties and gatherings and it immediately informs people of my identity.’
Artwork Image	00168_web.jpg

Topic attachments
I	Attachmentb	Action	Size
jpg	00168_Mabel_photo.jpg	manage	69.9 K
jpg	00168_kente.jpg	manage	312.4 K
jpg	00168_web.jpg	manage	442.1 K