The Kente Festival is an annual harvest festival celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Bonwire in the Ejisu-Juaben district in the Ashanti region of Ghana. [1] [2] [3] [4] It is usually celebrated in the month of January. [5] Others also claim it is celebrated in July or August. [6]
It is celebrated to promote and mark the invention of the Kente industry in the town of Bonwire. [7] [8] [9] The festival also intends to assert the influence of the Kente as cloth from Ghana. [6] The chiefs and the inhabitants of Bonwire wear Kente clothes and various designs they sewn. [1]
The festival is commemorated to mark the origin of the Kente cloth in the town of Bonwire which was invented over 300 years ago. [1]
Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing a border with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Togo in the east. Ghana covers an area of 239,567 km2 (92,497 sq mi), spanning diverse biomes that range from coastal savannas to tropical rainforests. With over 32 million inhabitants, Ghana is the second-most populous country in West Africa. The capital and largest city is Accra; other significant cities include Kumasi, Tamale, and Sekondi-Takoradi.
Kente refers to a Ghanaian textile made of hand-woven strips of silk and cotton. Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion by royalty among the Ewe and Akan. According to Ashanti oral tradition, it originated from Bonwire in the Ashanti region of Ghana. In modern day Ghana, the wearing of kente cloth has become widespread to commemorate special occasions, and kente brands led by master weavers are in high demand. Kente is also worn in parts of Togo and Ivory Coast by the Ewe and Akan people there.
Ghana is a country of 28.21 million people and many native groups, such as:
The Ashanti Region is located in the southern part of Ghana and is the third largest of 16 administrative regions, occupying a total land surface of 24,389 km2 (9,417 sq mi) and making up 10.2 percent of the total land area of Ghana. It is the most populated region in Ghana, with a population of 5,440,463 according to the 2021 census, accounting for around one-fifth of Ghana's total population. The Ashanti Region is known for its gold bar and cocoa production. The largest city and capital of Ashanti is Kumasi.
Goaso is a city and the capital of the newly created Ahafo Region of Ghana. Goaso doubles as the capital of Asunafo North Municipal District. It is located between three major towns; Mim, Kukuom and Hwidiem. Other surrounding towns include Ayumso, Akrodie, Fawohoyeden and Nkaseim. Goaso has population of 25,473 according to 2021 population census. This makes it the 2nd largest town after Mim in the Asunafo North Municipal District. Goaso is home to the offices of certain government agencies and institutions.
African textiles are textiles from various locations across the African continent. Across Africa, there are many distinctive styles, techniques, dyeing methods, and decorative and functional purposes. These textiles hold cultural significance and also have significance as historical documents of African design.
The Ghanaian Smock or Tani is a fabric worn by both women and men in Ghana. It is the most popular traditional attire in the country. The fabric is called Tani in Dagbani, while the male and female wear are respectively called Bin'gmaa and Bin'mangli. The smock is formally worn with a hat (zipligu), footwear (muɣri), and a trouser (kurugu).
Adanwomase is a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana located in Kwabre East District. Adanwomase is about 27 kilometers northeast of Kumasi. It is noted for Kente weaving with towns like Bonwire which is about 2 kilometers away. The town is also known for the Adanwomase Secondary School. The town also has a mini Kente weaving museum.
Bonwire is a town in Ghana, located in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipal district within the Ashanti Region. The town is located about 18 km on the Kumasi-Mampong road. According to Akan oral tradition, Kente originates from Bonwire.
The Dipo Rites is arguably one of the most popular yet criticized traditional festival and practice in Ghana, yet one of the most attended event in the country, receiving huge patronage from tourists. The traditional festival is celebrated by the people of Odumase krobo in the Eastern region of Ghana. The festival is celebrated in the month of April every year. The festival is used to usher virgin girls into puberty or womanhood, and it signifies that a participating girl is of age to be married. Parents upon hearing announcement of the rites send their qualified girls to the chief priest. However these girls would have to go through rituals and tests to prove their chastity before they qualify to partake in the festival.
The Damba festival is the largest festival in Ghana, celebrated by the peoples of the Northern, Savanna, North East, Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. In recent times, Damba has become a multinational festival, attracting visitors from all over the world. The festival is annually celebrated in Germany, USA, and UK.
Tourism in Ghana is regulated by the Ministry of Tourism of Ghana. This ministry is responsible for the development and promotion of tourism related activities in Ghana.
The Keta-Sometutuza or Keta-Sometutu Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Agbozume in Ketu South District in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated two weeks after the Hogbetsotso festival. It is celebrated by the Somey people of Agbozume, Denu and surrounding communities to commemorate their migration from Keta in 1792-94 after the Keta -Anloga War. It is usually celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in November.
The Gbidukor Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Gbi in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the month of November. It is claimed the festival rotates between Hohoe and Peki.
The Agbamevo Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Agotime Traditional Area. It is located some kilometers east of Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the month of August. They are Ga-Adangbes. The word Agbamevo means 'loom-cloth' in the Ewe Language.
Paragbeile Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Tumu in the Upper West Region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the month of January and February.
Nkyifie (Yam) Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Prang Traditional Area in the Pru West District in the Bono East Region, formerly the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the month of September. Others also claim it is celebrated in October or December. Others also claim it is celebrated in November.
Dumba Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Wa of the Wala Paramouncy in the Upper West Region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the month of September or October.
Awubia Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Awutu Traditional Area in Awutu Bereku in the Central Region of Ghana. The town is in the Awutu Senya district. It is usually celebrated in the month of August through to September. The festival is also known as Awutu Awubia Festival.