The Significance of Kente Cloth
Kente originates from the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana. For kids, it’s a great way to teach that “clothes tell stories”:
Every color in the cloth has a specific message. For example, gold represents status and serenity, green represents renewal and planting, and blue represents harmony and love.
Traditionally, it was woven on horizontal looms in long strips that were then sewn together. It was originally reserved for royalty!
Bringing in a drummer from Ghana or other parts of Africa (like those playing the **Djembe** or **Talking Drum**) provides a “living history” lesson. Many drums were historically used to send messages between villages. The “Talking Drum” can actually mimic the pitch and tone of human speech.
By wearing the Kente patterns and hearing the drums, the students aren’t just reading about a culture—they are participating in it. It bridges the gap between the HBCU Day celebrations and the actual ancestral roots that those universities work so hard to preserve.
