Bonwire Kente Weaving Village is a popular tourist destination located in the Ashanti region of Ghana, West Africa. It is known for its exquisite kente weaving art. Kente is a traditional cloth created by the people of the Asanti Kingdom. According to legend, two friends from Bonwire saw a spider weaving its web and decided to try weaving a beautiful raffia fabric. They later shared their story with the Chief of their time, Nana Bobie, who passed on the news to the Ashanti king. Over time, Kente became the royal cloth of the Ashante land.

The traditional art of kente weaving has been passed down through generations of skilled weavers. Visitors to the Bonwire Kente Weaving Village will be delighted to discover that the popular kente cloth is woven on wooden hand looms. The weavers operate the loom with both hands and feet. They place a needle, which treads the warp, between their toes. Then, they use a shuttle to pass the weft from the left to the right hand in a deft movement, inserting it smoothly over the coloured yarns to produce the double-weave strips of cloth. The rhythmic sound of the shuttle creates the Kente loom music, and weavers sing "Kro-hin-kro, Kro-hin-kro, Kro-hin-kro..." as they work. The strips of cloth, each eight feet long and four inches wide, are sewn together to make the desired sizes.

Visitors have the opportunity to interact with master weavers and learn about different types and systems of weaving. They can even try their hand at thread spinning, warping, and weaving. With the help of a guide, tourists can discover the different types of yarns used in fabric production, as well as the unique kente designs and their meanings. Some examples of kente patterns and their literal meanings include "Adwene asa" (all motifs are exhausted), "Sika future" (Gold dust), "Abusua ye dom" (The extended family is a force), and "Akokobaatan" (Mother hen).

The Bonwire Kente Village is dedicated to safeguarding the unique craft of Kente weaving for future generations. Visitors are warmly welcomed throughout the year. Additionally, the Bonwire Kente Festival is held annually, where new designs are introduced. There are various hotels available in the neighbouring towns, such as the Bonwire Guest House, NODA Hotel, and Kumasi Catering Rest Stop, where tourists can find accommodation while exploring the rich cultural heritage of the Bonwire Kente Village to the fullest.

REFERENCE

Information form https://touringghana.com/bonwire-kente-weaving-village/, https://www.traveloghana.com/places-to-visit/bonwire-kente-weaving-village/ and https://kentecloth.com/blog/kente-cloth-patterns-and-meanings/ was used in this story