The Ashanti are noted for their expertise in a variety of specialized crafts. These include weaving, wood carving, ceramics, and metallurgy. Of these crafts, only pottery-making is primarily a female activity; the others are restricted to male specialists.

Weaving is a highly developed craft, with dozens of standardized and named textile designs. Stamped cloth is also made.

Kente Cloth

Kente cloth is only worn in the southern half of the country and - as distinct from other forms of traditional weaving - is reserved mainly for joyous occasions

Traditionally the Kente cloth is a festival cloth worn mainly during the annual and seasonal festivals, which are happy occasions. Today they are not only used for festive occasions but also during the rituals associated with the important events of life; for example, marriage, death, and religious worship. Therefore, it is quite appropriate for outsiders to wear it for religious and festive occasions.


Kente Cloth designs originating in Ghana and date back to 12th Century.The cloth was worn by Kings, Queens, and important figures of state in Ghana's society, during ceremonial events and special occasions. Kente cloth received its name from the term "kenten", which means "basket", because of the cloth's resemblance to the woven design of a basket. Ghana's weavers used looms to make four inch wide strips of Kente cloth, and wove the strips together to form larger garments. Their garments came in various colors, sizes, and designs, and behind each design was deep symbolic meaning.


Adinkra Symbols

is one of the highly valued hand-printed and hand-embroidered cloths. Its origin is traced to the Asante people of Ghana and the Gyaman people of Cote' d'lvoire (Ivory Coast). However, the production and use of Adinkra have come to be more associated with the Asante people than any other group of people. Around the 19th Century, the Asante people developed their unique art of adinkra printing. Adinkra clothes were made and used exclusively by the royalty and spiritual leaders for very important sacred ceremonies and rituals.

Wood carving is divided into many branches, each with its own specialists. Among the major products are wooden sculptures of outstanding artistic quality and the talking-drums (ntumpane).

The famous wooden "stools" are symbolic and ritual objects rather than items of furniture. "In Ashanti, a generation or so ago, every stool in use had its own special name which denoted the sex, or social status, or clan of the owner"

Care of Wood Products

All fine wood products need moisture and in the dry climate of a home or business will become dried out and may crack. To prevent or reduce the chance of damage it is best to polish wood items at least once a month with a high quality wood polish. Spray on polishes are not effective as they are used mostly for removing dust from finished wood and do not add adequate moisture. Africans will often use matching shoe polish, which not only adds moisture but sheen to woods such as ebony or mahogany. Rub the polish in using a clean cloth or shoe brush then buff with a clean soft cloth.