Man's cloth

This kente man's cloth, worn toga-fashion, was once reserved for royalty and remains the most prestigious form of special-occasion wear. It is a masterfully woven Asante kente, produced in the workshop of one of Ghana's most renowned kente weavers. Composed of 18 narrow strips, the cloth is woven using the technically demanding, labor-intensive double-weave technique, in which the underlying striped warp pattern is completely obscured by weft designs. This warp and weft combination, known as Oyokoman Adweneasa, has been used here to create 24 different design motifs. Oyokoman refers to the Asante royal Oyoko clan, and Adweneasa or "the designs are exhausted," describes the prolific virtuosity of the weaver's accomplishment.