It is known for more than a century as the hub of kente cloth. One out of three residential compounds has a kente-weaving machine. It is that popular in the town and even though it is almost consigned to history, the mention, display, or wearing of this special cloth of Ghana, tosses up the name of this particular town.
It is a name that is featured in school books and brochures on tourism. This reference had become an etch in that ecosystem for out of it came the colorful kente cloth to which Ghana is globally identified. Ghanaian Heads of state either decorated their VVIP guests or presented them with the cloth, long perceived as having originated in Ghana and embraced in some African countries. . The kente, which was often accompanied by the wooden stool, is part of the popular quartet that branded the country. The other two are cocoa and gold.
Kente is also worn by political leaders to depict Ghana in the corridors of the United Nations, during diplomatic sessions, and as part of the traditional costume of traditional rulers. It is sewn into dresses for all kinds of occasions and for fashionistas. Indeed, kente sometimes plays a substitute for the Ghana flag where citizens may have to promote the Ghanaian brand.
However, the place for yarning the beautiful cloth which is a blend of bright colors is decaying. It is ironic that this invaluable fabric which is usually of the vermilion color pigment and therefore attractively made promotes lopsided traffic. While the technology for weaving kente is fairly distributed in the country, and these are privately sourced, the light is dimmed on the actual source from where it caught fire.
It is easy to find kente to buy in markets and shops in Ghana, and maybe overseas too, because of the spread in locations of production and the trundle of marketers commuting to this most authentic source to bring the item to town. It is uneasy for the majority interested to have ocular experience of the mass activity over there.
What has barred the numerous tourists wanting to see things for themselves are the extremely bad roads leading to the town and in the town. This refers to Bonwire in the Ashanti region. As a result of all the foregoing, the town is awfully quiet, as though in nothingness.
