Socio-Cultural and Economic Importance of Kete Weaving in Agortime Traditional Area, Ghana

Abstract

Aims: The study investigated the socio-cultural and economic importance of Ewe Kete cloth to the people. It aimed at finding out how the Kete weaving developed as a vocation in the Agortime traditional area, the socio-cultural and economic significance of Kete weaving to the people and how the Kete weaving was incorporated into the teaching and learning processes in the various educational institutions in the Agortime traditional area.
 Study Design: The study employed the quantitative approach using descriptive cross-sectional survey design.
 Place and Duration of Study: Sample: This study was conducted among the weaving communities in the Agortime-Kpetoe traditional area from February 2019 to November 2019.
 Methodology: The simple random sampling technique was used to sample the 100 male Kete weavers. Self-designed questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. Reliability analysis of the questionnaire showed high reliability with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.86. The quantitative data were descriptively analyzed and presented in tables as frequency counts and percentages using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS).
 Results: The study revealed that Kete weaving industry is a source of employment, income, clothing and socio-cultural identity to the people. The findings of this study revealed that Kete weaving and usage features prominently during lessons involving Basic Design and Technology, Religious and Moral Education as well as Social Studies in schools within Agortime-Kpetoe traditional area.
 Conclusion: It was recommended, among others, that financial institutions in the North Dayi District should provide credit facilities and financial support services to Kete weavers and sellers to enable them expand their industry and business activities. Also, the North Dayi District Assembly in liaison with the Small Scale and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Commission should provide credit facilities and financial support services to Kete weavers and other rural crafts to pave way for sustainable rural development.

Promotion and Preservation of Indigenous Textiles and Culture in Ghana

“…These are compatible with geometric patterns and vibrant weft blocks and are tied to proverbs and symbols from the Ewe culture. Some prestige symbols and eloquent wealth are part of ewe kete (Wemegah et al, 2021). Together with the wrapper's enticing overall balance, these pulsating visual beats in the design create a work of art.…”

Factors influencing the weaving and use of kente cloth: the case of Bonwire, Ghana

“…Therefore, the uniqueness and authenticity of the kente weaving in the Ashanti Region promote tourism in the weaving communities, which helps project the image of the textile industry in Ghana to other countries (Asmah et al , 2015). The kente weaving and usage enhance the socio-cultural and political identity of the various communities (Wemegah et al , 2021). The cloth is a source of pride as the type an individual uses depicts his/her social status (Badoe and Opoku-Asare, 2014; Asibey et al , 2017).…”

“…The kente cloths help in the preservation of indigenous culture through the inscription of national symbols for posterity (Kissi et al , 2019). The kente weaving serves as a platform for an individual’s artistic creativity and expression of feelings (Wemegah et al , 2021). Economically, the locally kente weaving serves as a source of income for livelihood activities.…”

“…Economically, the locally kente weaving serves as a source of income for livelihood activities. Wemegah et al (2021) opine that the wages of kente weavers range between GH₵12,000 (US$1,986.34) and GH₵18,000 (US$2,979.54) annually from 2017 to 2019. In deduction, a kente weaver earns more than GH₵1,000, which is about double the earnings Weaving and use of kente cloth of an average worker in the informal sector of the Ghanaian economy estimated to be GH ₵450 (US$74.49USD) (Wemegah et al, 2021).…”

“…Wemegah et al (2021) opine that the wages of kente weavers range between GH₵12,000 (US$1,986.34) and GH₵18,000 (US$2,979.54) annually from 2017 to 2019. In deduction, a kente weaver earns more than GH₵1,000, which is about double the earnings Weaving and use of kente cloth of an average worker in the informal sector of the Ghanaian economy estimated to be GH ₵450 (US$74.49USD) (Wemegah et al, 2021). Similar to this, the kente weaving industry supports the local economy through gainful employment, skills acquisition and transmission and adaptation to technology (Asibey et al, 2017).…”