Simply genius. African weavers deserve better pay for their efforts and hardwork. I personally love the KENTE fabric with their encoded message. Much love from East Africa 🎉🎉🎉
I watch this video primarily to find out more about fabric weaving, so that I can express upon the governments of the Caribbean (Jamaica), to introduce it as a means of employment where there is high unemployment and little or no credentials. I think there is a market for this skill as well as the accompanying product. With some training and investments in the machinery require, a number of people in the Caribbean maybe able to get a job to improve a their dire situation.
I remember back home (Senegal ) I use to pass weavers and pay them no mind or appreciating their arts . After living in Canada so long , I miss my childhood and my country. I visit often tho.. I have a nice pieces of fabric my mum sent me and they are just sitting somewhere in my closet (Expensive handmade fabric ). And in our countries , your ancestors artisanal work will define which caste (class ) you belong to (iron smith, weaver, tree cutters etc...) and they are usually considered lower caste and cant inter marry the " higher" caste . It's absurd and ridiculous but it's the tradition.
Since you mentioned Nigeria, this video is missing Yoruba traditional woven fabrics Aso oke, aso ofi, Aso olona, etc, which are some of the most ancient, highly traded and important fabrics then and today . Aso olona even helped inspire akwete. And of course it's missing other indigenous weaving from other parts of Nigerian and all over Africa, but the video isn't about all the countries, so it's understandable.
Most likely yes. The style of loom pretty much unique to West Africa. They likely originated from peoples of the Mali and/or Burkina Faso region (and/or possibly Nigeria). The oldest strip woven textiles are from central Mali dating to 1000-1100 AD (in burials in the Bandiagara Caves, associated with the Tellem culture), but older textiles are depicted in sculptures from the Nigerian Nok culture (dating from 900 BC and later) and a site around Burkina Faso (ca 300 BC) and older ones may exist. There is also a separate and very ancient and indigenousbroad loom weaving tradition (but by men) based in Central Africa that uses the fibers of the raffia palm to make thread (the textiles of the Bakongo and Bakuba being some of the most famous examples, though many cultures in the regions had their own version also).
Also, pieces of cloth have been found at the southeast Nigerian site of Igbo Ukwu (dating to the 900s AD). And depictions of cloth garments exist in a few of the ancient Nok terracottas from central Nigeria (which date to about 900 BC to 200 AD).
skellagyook Thank you ! I was wondering if the machine used to weave was indigenous to africa as well. I understand the cloths prove that weaving has been practiced there for centuries but where they weaved using this same technology?
Christopher Roy is wrong when he claims that Ashanti youngmen go to Ewe land to learn weaving Kente. Ashantis are masters of their own weaving techniques. The Ashanti youngmen are trained in Bonwire and villages around that area in Ashanti. Roy is trying to cut out the Ashanti Kente weaving traditions from the cloth weaving practice in Ghana.
Yes, that is true, because it is so much fun to make you uncomfortabe. The Ewe were weaving when the Asante were still wearing cloth they bought from the people much farther north, especially the Mossi. Can you provide any documents from the 16th to 18th centuries that prove the Asante were weaving before the Ewe?
Don't have any documents from that time, because most outsiders at the era only cared about what they could get from Africans, thus nothing was detailed enough like we have today. But from my own comparisons(free of tribal bias), I think they learned the technique from the Mossi, then the Ewe learned it from the Asante. The Asante say they learned Kente from a giant spider. This is obviously an analogy or mnemonic for the drop spindle(remember there were no camera or even writing at this time to remember so they depended on Mnemonics which can be found in proverbs and the like), which does look like a spider making a strand of web. Clearly they use the same weaving technique and are geographically closer to the Mossi than the Ewe who are along the coast. To which were conquered and colonized by Asantes and other Akans. It's not just weaving, but the Ewe's do have some matrilineal inheritance for land, the concept of day names, Twi words and even stools. All those things they adopted from their local conquerors. Also, the Fon their relatives or even Ewe outside of Ghana, do not have Kente. But rather their own cloth.
@Anne-droid I am even shocked someone believes what a writer says about a group of people. I guess Jake has not read some of the weird things books have recorded about the African, particularly, the West African. By the way, Roy did a great job on this and he wasn't entirely wrong about Ashantis undergoing apprenticeship to learn weaving from Ewes. Reality is, Ashanti weavers are originally adept at not-too-complex patterns/ designs, which usually go for relatively low prices, similar to that of the Mossis. So ohene too may be correct on saying he believes the Ashantis learnt weaving from the Mossis. The Ewe weavers are skilled in weaving very complex, prestigious patterns which are usually costly and largely used by the Ashantis. So SOME Ashanti weavers undergo apprenticeship from the Ewes to get the skills. This is still happening even now at Bonwire, if you doubt, you can come around so I to take you around for evidence or just engage any kente store owner in Bonwire, Adawomase, Ntonsu etc for this truth. PERHAPS, YOU MAY ASK ANY CEPS OFFICER WHY LARGE QUANTITIES OF KENTE GET TRANSPORTED FROM THE EWE LAND TO THE ASHANTI LAND DAILY EVEN THOUGH ASHANTIS STILL WEAVE Jake and Ohene, Please Swallow your pride and inhale truth.
@@dreamstv7012 And who in Ashanti do you know, buys and from which shops and wears your non existent tons of Ewe Kente in your dreams were shipped with your non existent CEP supervision??????? Swallow your wrongs and breath in knowledge.
@@dreamstv7012 Writing is a good form of historical preservation. We do have to keep in mind about the biases but you can't completely disregard historical records. Also historical evidence have different degrees of "weight" if you will. Historical evidences are not equal, so you have to look at them in the context of the situation that they were produced in.
Go and read Captain Rattray's books on Ashanti culture and traditions. and be educated and not rely on tribal centered information you get from hearsay.
I read Rattray 50 years ago. Rattray is early 20th century. I have a copy on my bookshelf I read whenever I want to know what was going on in 1920. My information comes from supervising a PhD on Ewe weaving. This is all subjective opinion. Enough.
Rattray did not write one book. He wrote many books, being an anthropologist he covered all of Ashanti culture and tradition. Your Phd student may have duped you with the bias that he has against the Ashantis.
Simply genius. African weavers deserve better pay for their efforts and hardwork. I personally love the KENTE fabric with their encoded message. Much love from East Africa 🎉🎉🎉
I watch this video primarily to find out more about fabric weaving, so that I can express upon the governments of the Caribbean (Jamaica), to introduce it as a means of employment where there is high unemployment and little or no credentials. I think there is a market for this skill as well as the accompanying product. With some training and investments in the machinery require, a number of people in the Caribbean maybe able to get a job to improve a their dire situation.
That is a wonderful idea, did you pursue it?
This is the real Gucci and Versace hand made real quality
🙆 wow another weaving techniques and spinning and So beautifull and R E S P E C T 👏💐
I remember back home (Senegal ) I use to pass weavers and pay them no mind or appreciating their arts . After living in Canada so long , I miss my childhood and my country. I visit often tho.. I have a nice pieces of fabric my mum sent me and they are just sitting somewhere in my closet (Expensive handmade fabric ). And in our countries , your ancestors artisanal work will define which caste (class ) you belong to (iron smith, weaver, tree cutters etc...) and they are usually considered lower caste and cant inter marry the " higher" caste . It's absurd and ridiculous but it's the tradition.
I have been a yarn spinner for a little bit and learning to weave. This is so fascinating.
loved this, the loom design looks simple and damn its fast
How I'll love to watch my grandmother weave for one last time. Thank you for sharing.
Super engineering skills. In the past men came from distant lands to marry akwete daughters for this skill.
Simply amazing...they achieve with simple but elegant looms what takes some European weavers very complex floor looms to accomplish.
Thank you for producing this interesting and informative documentary! Please do more like these. :)
thank you sir for this very informative documentary... food for thought. wish to see a documentary on local building techniques.
Wow incredible skills why ant they paid more for for their skills this is so amazing those patterns omg
Since you mentioned Nigeria, this video is missing Yoruba traditional woven fabrics Aso oke, aso ofi, Aso olona, etc, which are some of the most ancient, highly traded and important fabrics then and today . Aso olona even helped inspire akwete. And of course it's missing other indigenous weaving from other parts of Nigerian and all over Africa, but the video isn't about all the countries, so it's understandable.
This is genius!!! like what the fuck I can't rap my brain around the creative ways of yahweh
great documentary!!
The men’s looms in someway look like parts of a back strap loom.
Is job is for women who at home like me Thank you for teaching me God bless your work
Wow.....incredible
Nice documentary....👍
This is fascinating. Thank you so much for showing us this true art form. I wonder if there is a source for purchasing their yarn? Fabric?
Good work
Thank you
My pleasure !
Where do they get the stuff to make cloth dye?
They grow it. indigo is a plant.
Are the men’s Weaving looms indigenous to Africa?
Most likely yes. The style of loom pretty much unique to West Africa. They likely originated from peoples of the Mali and/or Burkina Faso region (and/or possibly Nigeria). The oldest strip woven textiles are from central Mali dating to 1000-1100 AD (in burials in the Bandiagara Caves, associated with the Tellem culture), but older textiles are depicted in sculptures from the Nigerian Nok culture (dating from 900 BC and later) and a site around Burkina Faso (ca 300 BC) and older ones may exist. There is also a separate and very ancient and indigenousbroad loom weaving tradition (but by men) based in Central Africa that uses the fibers of the raffia palm to make thread (the textiles of the Bakongo and Bakuba being some of the most famous examples, though many cultures in the regions had their own version also).
Also, pieces of cloth have been found at the southeast Nigerian site of Igbo Ukwu (dating to the 900s AD). And depictions of cloth garments exist in a few of the ancient Nok terracottas from central Nigeria (which date to about 900 BC to 200 AD).
skellagyook Thank you ! I was wondering if the machine used to weave was indigenous to africa as well.
I understand the cloths prove that weaving has been practiced there for centuries but where they weaved using this same technology?
@@sjappiyah4071 Yoruba men and women woven clothes looms are indigenous and ancient.
@@stylehouse7977 perfect, thank you
Christopher Roy is wrong when he claims that Ashanti youngmen go to Ewe land to learn weaving Kente. Ashantis are masters of their own weaving techniques. The Ashanti youngmen are trained in Bonwire and villages around that area in Ashanti. Roy is trying to cut out the Ashanti Kente weaving traditions from the cloth weaving practice in Ghana.
Yes, that is true, because it is so much fun to make you uncomfortabe. The Ewe were weaving when the Asante were still wearing cloth they bought from the people much farther north, especially the Mossi. Can you provide any documents from the 16th to 18th centuries that prove the Asante were weaving before the Ewe?
Don't have any documents from that time, because most outsiders at the era only cared about what they could get from Africans, thus nothing was detailed enough like we have today. But from my own comparisons(free of tribal bias), I think they learned the technique from the Mossi, then the Ewe learned it from the Asante. The Asante say they learned Kente from a giant spider. This is obviously an analogy or mnemonic for the drop spindle(remember there were no camera or even writing at this time to remember so they depended on Mnemonics which can be found in proverbs and the like), which does look like a spider making a strand of web. Clearly they use the same weaving technique and are geographically closer to the Mossi than the Ewe who are along the coast. To which were conquered and colonized by Asantes and other Akans. It's not just weaving, but the Ewe's do have some matrilineal inheritance for land, the concept of day names, Twi words and even stools. All those things they adopted from their local conquerors. Also, the Fon their relatives or even Ewe outside of Ghana, do not have Kente. But rather their own cloth.
@Anne-droid I am even shocked someone believes what a writer says about a group of people. I guess Jake has not read some of the weird things books have recorded about the African, particularly, the West African.
By the way, Roy did a great job on this and he wasn't entirely wrong about Ashantis undergoing apprenticeship to learn weaving from Ewes. Reality is, Ashanti weavers are originally adept at not-too-complex patterns/ designs, which usually go for relatively low prices, similar to that of the Mossis. So ohene too may be correct on saying he believes the Ashantis learnt weaving from the Mossis. The Ewe weavers are skilled in weaving very complex, prestigious patterns which are usually costly and largely used by the Ashantis. So SOME Ashanti weavers undergo apprenticeship from the Ewes to get the skills. This is still happening even now at Bonwire, if you doubt, you can come around so I to take you around for evidence or just engage any kente store owner in Bonwire, Adawomase, Ntonsu etc for this truth.
PERHAPS, YOU MAY ASK ANY CEPS OFFICER WHY LARGE QUANTITIES OF KENTE GET TRANSPORTED FROM THE EWE LAND TO THE ASHANTI LAND DAILY EVEN THOUGH ASHANTIS STILL WEAVE
Jake and Ohene, Please Swallow your pride and inhale truth.
@@dreamstv7012 And who in Ashanti do you know, buys and from which shops and wears your non existent tons of Ewe Kente in your dreams were shipped with your non existent CEP supervision??????? Swallow your wrongs and breath in knowledge.
@@dreamstv7012 Writing is a good form of historical preservation. We do have to keep in mind about the biases but you can't completely disregard historical records. Also historical evidence have different degrees of "weight" if you will. Historical evidences are not equal, so you have to look at them in the context of the situation that they were produced in.
Iam weaving india andrapradesh
Go and read Captain Rattray's books on Ashanti culture and traditions. and be educated and not rely on tribal centered information you get from hearsay.
I read Rattray 50 years ago. Rattray is early 20th century. I have a copy on my bookshelf I read whenever I want to know what was going on in 1920. My information comes from supervising a PhD on Ewe weaving. This is all subjective opinion. Enough.
Rattray did not write one book. He wrote many books, being an anthropologist he covered all of Ashanti culture and tradition. Your Phd student may have duped you with the bias that he has against the Ashantis.
@@Forcingpeopletoregis u not like europeanss ..
@@jakebaba2149 guess you like beating women..
AND YOU LIKE MALTREATING CHILDREN???????????
just watching this gives me anxiety
Why?