Kente Cloth Festival coming up in Modena

Ghanaians traditional cloth, ‘Kente’ will be seen by a large audience at an African Show to be hosted in Modena, Italy.

The two-day show on 30th and 31st of May to take place at a quiet location of the city, Ponte Alto (Via Anesino 50), is being organised by Heritage International Club in Modena and African Design Concept, Inc., based in New York City.

‘Kente’ as a royal commodity in Africa is getting a total innovative development at the world stage and the cultural event in Modena would be centred on promoting and marketing it. The event will also showcase some of Ghana’s domestic products that will include other textiles, hair and skin care products, ethnic foods, and the authentic woven ‘kente’ cloth in its many wearable fashions.

The Show will also bring to the open market other African, Caribbean, Afro-centric products and services.

A spokesperson of Heritage International Club, Vida Amos, speaking about what participants will see said there will be brief history of the ‘Kente’ cloth with traditional drumming and dances such as ‘adowa’ and ‘kete’ among others. “We are bringing a delegation from Ghana and a group that will give a practical demonstration of weaving the ‘Kente’ cloth using the local loom for weaving in Ghana called ‘bonwire’”.

According to the organisers, performing groups will include a cultural troupe from the city of Udine with a demonstration of Chiefs and People in Ghana, an Ewe Group (representing the Volta Region in Ghana) dancing groups from a number of Francophone countries in Africa, Ghanaians and Nigerians groups from the city Bologna and Fashion designers from Modena.

The Fair which will start at 4p.m and end at 11p.m on the first day and 12p.m to 7p.m on the second day will also have a session on African storytelling, featuring bedtime stories in a local village. Participants will have the opportunity to taste various Ghanaian dishes whilst seeing Ghanaian crops, arts and crafts on display.

Explaining the motives behind the Show, Vida Amos adds: “Our aim is to promote Ghana and its rich cultural heritage that will bring recognition of Ghana and its people to the Italian locals, also to promote small scale trade amongst Africans and to encourage rural development projects in Ghana”.

The Mayor of the city Modena, Giorgio Pighi, is expected to be present among host of representatives from various sectors in the city. An entourage from the Ghana Embassy in Rome would be headed by Jonathan Bartels-Kodwo (Minister and Officer responsible for Consular Affairs).

Heritage International Club and African Design Concept, Inc., will host a similar event in New York City on June 27 of this year.