Meaning Of 13 Colours Of Ghanaian Kente Cloth

Kente, known as nwentom in Akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan ethnic group of South Ghana. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means basket in Akan dialect Asante. Akans refer to kente as nwentoma, meaning woven cloth.

It comes in different colours and designs. The brilliant colours and intricate designs associated with Kente have definitely made this fabric the best known of all Ghanaian, and perhaps even all West African textiles. Every design has a story with a proverbial meaning, giving each cloth its own distinction.

Kente cloth is usually worn for ceremonies, festivals, and other sacred occasions. It is also given as a gift for weddings, child naming ceremonies, graduations, and other special events.

The history of Kente weaving extends back more than 400 years. History has it that the very first Kente weavers used raffia, or palm leaf fibers, and wove them into a cloth that looked like a basket.

One story about Kente says that two friends learned to weave by observing a spider weave its web. They wove in imitation of the spider, using raffia fibers to create a strip of fabric. Their leaders were so impressed with this new cloth that it became the royal cloth and was saved for special occasions. There are more than 300 different patters of Kente cloth. Each pattern has a name and its own meaning. The meanings come from past events, religious beliefs, political ideas, and social customs.

Like the patterns, the various colours that usually appear on the kente cloth represent different values and concepts of life. The Kente cloth, is therefore not worn for its beauty alone but also for its representational qualities. They are worn to send out a message.

Below are the meanings of 8 colours of the kente cloth;

Red

Stands for blood and for strong political and spiritual associations, bloodshed, sacrificial rites and death.

Yellow

Just like that of the rising sun, or yolk of an egg, the yellow kente colour is a symbol for things that are holy and precious. It represents fertility, preciousness,wealth, royalty and glory.

Pink

It is used to symbolize gentle qualities such as calmness, sweetness, and tenderness.

Gold

like the metal gold, is a symbol of royalty, wealth, and spiritual purity.

Green

It is associated with plants and stand for growth, life and good health.

Maroon

It is associated with the colour of Earth, the mother. It represents healing and protection from evil.

Black

Stands for aging because in nature things get darker as they get older. Colour of bereavement. Black also stands for strong spiritual energy, and the spirits of the ancestors. Also signifies mystery and secrecy and mostly used in initiation and purification ceremonies.

Blue

Stands for the sky and is used to symbolize holiness, peace, harmony, good fortune, and love.

White

White derives its symbolism from the white part of the egg and from white clay which symbolize innocence, peace and healing and is used in spiritual purification, sanctification rites and festive occasions.

Gray

Represents ash. Ash is used for healing and spiritual cleansing rituals to re-create spiritual balance when spiritual blemish has occurred. It is also used in rituals for protection against malevolent spirits.

Silver

stands for the moon and represents serenity, purity and joy.

Purple

like maroon, is associated with Earth and with healing and feminism.