How is meaning conveyed in Kente designs?
Strong colours, symbols and geometric patterns are woven into the Kente strips, all of which have a specific meaning. Colour is particularly significant in the design. The a thread stretched lengthwise in a loom’);” onmouseout=”return nd();” class=”glossaryHilite”>warp thread is usually black, but the a thread woven across a warp to make fabric’);” onmouseout=”return nd();” class=”glossaryHilite”>weft threads are always richly coloured. These colours have different meanings: • yellow – egg yolk, for fertility • pink – feminine, for calm • red – blood, for struggle • blue – sky, for love • maroon – Mother Earth, for protection • white – clay, for spiritual balance • grey – ash, for cleansing • purple – female, for healing • green – harvest for health • silver – moon, for joy • gold – value, for wealth • black – ageing, for maturity. Despite the significance of colours and patterns, many people simply select strips that they find aesthetically pleasing or appropriate for a special occasi
