Item X 45360 kente or n'tama | Textile. Ashanti. Bonwire, Ashanti, Ghana. pre 1893

Local Name

kente or n'tama

Physical Description

A length of cloth woven from dyed cotton and silk. The patterning is geometric.

Significance

This kente cloth is identified as a 'royal robe' and is known as n'tama. It belonged to a man identified as the 'King of Aotaba, Gold Coast, West Africa', which is now part of Ghana. Mr E.J. Dawes purchased it in April 1893 from this Ashanti chief for the significant price of '2 lion's claws and 15 pounds cash'. The complexity of the patterning and the iconic bright colours of kente cloths were indicative of the high status of the wearer.