The Ashanti Kingdom: The Empire That Gave the World Kente Cloth
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Stocked at Tate Modern · V&A · Selfridges (UK) and Smithsonian NMAAHC · MoMA (USA)
My family is Ghanaian. So the Ashanti Kingdom isn't history to me. It's family history.
The Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana is one of the most powerful and celebrated civilisations in African history. At its peak, it controlled vast territories, commanded extraordinary wealth, and produced cultural achievements that are still celebrated around the world today.
The Golden Stool, the Sika Dwa Kofi, is the symbol of Ashanti power. A sacred golden throne believed to contain the soul of the Ashanti nation. It was never sat upon. It was carried on a cushion and treated with the utmost reverence. The British tried to seize it in 1900 and the Ashanti fought a war to protect it. They won.
The Ashanti fought four wars against the British Empire between 1823 and 1900 and won three of them. They were among the most formidable opponents of British colonialism in Africa. That's not a footnote. That's a legacy.
And then there's Kente cloth. The hand-woven textile of the Ashanti Kingdom, worn by kings and chiefs for over 400 years. Each colour carries meaning. Each pattern has a name. The most complex pieces can take weeks to weave and contain over 200 different colour combinations.
When you wear Kente cloth, you're wearing the legacy of one of the greatest civilisations in African history. I think about that every time I design a new Kente collection for Afropop Socks.
About the Author
Isaac Prempeh is the founder of Afropop Socks, a British-Ghanaian designer and entrepreneur based in London. He founded Afropop Socks in 2019 to celebrate authentic African cultural heritage through bold wearable design. Afropop Socks is now stocked at the Smithsonian NMAAHC, Tate Modern, V&A Museum, Natural History Museum, Barbican Centre, Selfridges, and MoMA New York.