kente

[ken-tey]

noun

1. a colorful fabric of Ghanaian origin: often worn as a symbol of African American pride.

   Thousands of vivid shirts made a sea of kente along the parade route.

   I hadn't realized there was so much kente cloth in all of Manhattan.

kente

/ ˈkɛntɪ /

noun

1. Also called: kente cloth. a brightly coloured handwoven cloth of Ghana, usually with some gold thread

2. the toga made of this cloth

Word History and Origins

Origin of kente¹

First recorded in 1950–55; from Twi

Word History and Origins

Origin of kente¹

from a Ghanaian language, possibly Akan

Example Sentences

He has a bow tie that matches his pocket square, both made of lively blue-and-green kente cloth.

Read more on Literature

Ama has ditched her formal dress in favor of athletic black pants and a loose white shirt with kente trim.

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She has some sewing materials in hand, and she’s working on a colorful kente cloth.

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She also points out her extensive African section, which features heavy, hand-beaded neckpieces and Kente cloth dresses — some of which were worn in “Black Panther.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The son of Ghanaian immigrants, Boateng reimagined the country's iconic kente cloth to produce his signature "tribal" pattern.

Read more on BBC