Celebrating Black History Month with Kente Cloth

No fabric is more associated with Africa than the vibrant colors of kente cloth. This fabric is instantly identifiable to African culture, and therefore is a big hit during Black History Month. Native to the country of Ghana, kente cloth has a strong spiritual value. It is a royal and sacred cloth worn only in times of extreme importance in Africa.

Kente is called 'the cloth of kings' and over time the use of kente cloth has become more widespread. Kente cloth is easily identified by its dazzling, multicolored patterns of lush colors, geometric shapes, and bold designs. Each color also has a symbolic meaning:

Black - Maturation, intensified spiritual energy

Blue - Peacefulness, harmony and love

Green - Vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, spiritual renewal

Gold - Royalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual purity

Grey - Healing and cleansing rituals; associated with ash

Maroon - Mother earth; associated with healing

Pink - Feminine aspects of life; a mild, gentle aspect of red

Purple - Feminine aspects of life; usually worn by women

Red - Political and spiritual moods; bloodshed, sacrificial rites and death

Silver - Serenity, purity, joy; associated with the moon

White - Purification, sanctification rites and festive occasions

Yellow - Preciousness, royalty, wealth, and fertility

African legend has it that kente was first made by two friends who went hunting in a forest and found a spider making its web. The friends watched the spider for two days then returned home and implemented what they had seen.

You can find a huge selection of kente fabrics on the Africa Imports web site or by Clicking Here You can also find many African garments including kente garments by Clicking Here