In Ghanaian wedding traditions, the colorful woven textile associated with Akan royal and ceremonial dress is kente.
Kente is a strip-woven cloth made by Akan weavers in Ghana. Its vivid colors and geometric patterns carry meanings that can relate to ideas such as royalty, spirituality, history, or moral values. Couples and wedding parties may wear kente garments or use kente-inspired designs during important ceremonies.
Kente has strong associations with the Asante and other Akan peoples, but it has also become a widely recognized symbol of Ghanaian identity. The cloth is woven in narrow strips that are later sewn together into larger pieces. Authentic handwoven kente differs from mass-produced printed fabric that imitates its patterns.
Kente is not Ghana’s only ceremonial textile. Ewe communities also produce distinctive kente traditions, and other West African fabrics have different weaving methods and histories.