Ewe Kente weaving in Kpetoe

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Ewe Kente weaving by a group of two weavers in the Kpetoe community in Volta Region, Ghana.
Kente is woven on a horizontal strip loom, which produces a narrow band of cloth about four inches wide. Several of these strips are carefully arranged and hand-sewn together to create a cloth of the desired size. Most kente weavers are men.
Weaving involves the crossing of a row of parallel threads called the warp (threads running vertically) with another row called the weft (threads running horizontally). A horizontal loom, constructed with wood, consists of a set of two, four or six heddles (loops for holding thread), which are used for separating and guiding the warp threads. These are attached to treadles (foot pedals) with pulleys that have spools of thread inserted in them. The pulleys can be used to move the warp threads apart. As the weaver divides the warp threads, he uses a shuttle (a small wooden device carrying a bobbin, or small spool of thread) to insert the weft threads between them. These various parts of the loom, like the motifs in the cloth, all have symbolic significance and are accorded a great deal of respect.
By alternating colours in the warp and weft, a weaver can create complex patterns, which in kente cloth are valued for both their visual effect and their symbolism. Patterns can exist vertically (in the warp), or horizontally (in the weft), or both.
Source: Khan Academy.
Ewe Kente Cloths are considered by many to be one of the most premier and unique styles of Kente Cloth in the modern day. Ewe Kente Cloths are now made mostly by artisans in Southern Ghana near the towns Agbozume and Kpetoe. The tradition of Kente Cloth Weaving dates as far back as the 11th Century and Ewe Kente Cloths have a variety of influences with many variations in style. What makes Ewe Kente more unique than the traditional Asante style of Kente Cloth is the diversity of design styles.
Recorded by Emmanuel Baffoe, a recently trained Field Recordist and upcoming Soundscape Ecology and Multimedia Specialist and Trainer.
Emmanuel is one of 5 selected trainees receiving mentorship under the Soundscape Ecology and Multimedia Education Ghana program carried out by CSEM (Center for Soundscape Ecology and Multimedia).
UNESCO listing: Craftsmanship of traditional woven textile Kente
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