A short history of the tradition of the Kente weavers in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Nana Asante Fremprong, a local businessman and master weaver, describes the method and skills involved in the process and how it's been updated without the loss of traditional values
A look at how weaving in the Ashanti region has changed with the introduction of women to the workforce and how weaving offers a high status and great opportunities to those who are skilled in it
The origin, meanings and tradition of the patterns of Kente cloth is explained in more detail. The need to create new and saleable designs is also discussed
The tradition of Adinkra. The making of a printed cloth, mainly used for funerals, following the process of dying and painting the fabric
The importance of symbols in the tradition of Adinkra and how new symbols are being added to the repertoire
An overview of the importance of the traditional printing and weaving methods to the local people and how they incorporate new designs into their work
John Picton goes to the market in Kumasi to look at factory printed cloth to see how it is still influenced by traditional designs. He also looks at the history of the modern printed cloths and how manufacturers try to keep pace with changing societies