Kente is the best known and most widely appreciated of all African textiles, adopted throughout the African diaspora worldwide since the 1960’s as a symbol of Pan-Africanism and Afrocentric identity.
Today, let us educate ourselves on the wonderful colors of the kente cloth and their significance!!!
The vibrant colorful weavings of the Kente cloth carry different levels of meaning around the world. For many, kente patterns resonate as a uniquely African or West African feature. Each color, just like each shape and pattern on the Kente, carries a specific meaning to the wearer of the cloth…..
· Black is the most significant and incorporated color of kente and represents spiritual strength.
· Red symbolizes blood, political passion, and strength
· Blue stands for peace, love, and harmony
· Gold or yellow represents wealth, royalty, and fertility
· Green means growth, harvest, and renewal
· White symbolizes purity, cleansing rites, and festive occasions
· Purple or Maroon represents Mother Earth, healing and protection from evil
· Pink is associated with the female essence of life; it’s usually worn by women
· Silver stands for serenity or joy
· Grey is for healing and cleansing rituals
· Brown is also the color for Mother Earth and is associated with healing
We have a wonderful collection of these kente cloths. Visit us at the AMBA Gallery and come learn more about our African heritage embedded in art!!!
