Since at least the 1970s, African American graduates -particularly university graduates- wear a kente cloth stole over their graduation robes. The kente cloth stole represents the graduates' pride in their restored Afrikan heritage, and their pride in their accomplishment of graduating. The Kente Cloth is a material produced from the Western African hemisphere, and direct ties to the stolen lineage African American had endured due to the American enslavement trade.
Kente cloth is deeply intertwined with the history of the Ashanti nation. The Ashanti Empire or Confederacy, which was located in what is today Ghana, first emerged in West Africa during the seventeenth century. Kente Cloth was traditionally only worn by Kings and Queens in Ghana and is created by master craftsmen. The Ashanti are members of the Akan people who speak the Akan or Ashanti dialect. The word “Kente” which means basket comes from the Akan or Ashanti dialect. Akans also refer to Kente as nwentoma, which means woven cloth. Kente cloth designs vary, with the different designs, colors, and patterns each having their special meanings and stories. But Kente cloth also reflects the history of the Ashanti people, from the emergence of the various Ashanti Kingdoms to the development of the slave trade up to and including contemporary life in Ghana. Kente Cloth provides income to generations of master craftsmen and supports black businesses.
According to Ashanti legend, two farmers, Krugu Amoaya and Watah Kraban, from the village of Bonwire, came across a spider, Ananse, spinning the web. Amazed by the web’s beauty, the farmers returned to their homes eager to try and recreate the web. They wove a cloth first from white, and then black and white, fibers from a raffia tree. They then presented their cloth to the Ashanti Asantehene, or king, Nana Osei Tutu (who reigned from 1701 to 1717). As descendants of ancestors that come from the West African Ashanti Empire, African American students pay homage to their ancestors by wearing the kente stoles during graduation.
Kente cloth is deeply intertwined with the history of the Ashanti nation. The Ashanti Empire or Confederacy, which was located in what is today Ghana, first emerged in West Africa during the seventeenth century. Kente Cloth was traditionally only worn by Kings and Queens in Ghana and is created by master craftsmen. The Ashanti are members of the Akan people who speak the Akan or Ashanti dialect. The word “Kente” which means basket comes from the Akan or Ashanti dialect. Akans also refer to Kente as nwentoma, which means woven cloth. Kente cloth designs vary, with the different designs, colors, and patterns each having their special meanings and stories. But Kente cloth also reflects the history of the Ashanti people, from the emergence of the various Ashanti Kingdoms to the development of the slave trade up to and including contemporary life in Ghana. Kente Cloth provides income to generations of master craftsmen and supports black businesses.
According to Ashanti legend, two farmers, Krugu Amoaya and Watah Kraban, from the village of Bonwire, came across a spider, Ananse, spinning the web. Amazed by the web’s beauty, the farmers returned to their homes eager to try and recreate the web. They wove a cloth first from white, and then black and white, fibers from a raffia tree. They then presented their cloth to the Ashanti Asantehene, or king, Nana Osei Tutu (who reigned from 1701 to 1717). As descendants of ancestors that come from the West African Ashanti Empire, African American students pay homage to their ancestors by wearing the kente stoles during graduation.
What is Donning of the Kente?
The Donning of the Kente is a pre-commencement graduation celebration held yearly at colleges and high schools around the United States where participating graduates, typically of African descent, are adorned with academic stoles made of Kente cloth. Afterwards, the students can wear the Kente stole over their robes during the traditional graduation commencement.
During the ceremony, participating students are sometimes marched to the stage in an African-drum led procession, often followed by a stage performance of traditional Ghanaian dance. A keynote speaker will then address the audience, noting the significance of the occasion and recognizing the hurdles overcome by the graduating students. Finally, each graduate is announced one after another, their academic major and any special achievements highlighted before being donned with a Kente graduation stole by a special guest of their choice. After all graduates have received their Kente stoles, final remarks are delivered by a keynote speaker, and the ceremony closes with students lining out in a procession. Donning of the Kente ceremonies are typically followed by a reception for students, staff, and guests.
The wearing of Kente cloth as a graduation stole goes back to 1993, when faculty at West Chester University wanted to honor the specific challenges overcome by their African-American students. The tradition has since spread to colleges and high schools around the country, with thousands of students donning Kente stoles every year at their graduation ceremonies.
The Donning of the Kente is a pre-commencement graduation celebration held yearly at colleges and high schools around the United States where participating graduates, typically of African descent, are adorned with academic stoles made of Kente cloth. Afterwards, the students can wear the Kente stole over their robes during the traditional graduation commencement.
During the ceremony, participating students are sometimes marched to the stage in an African-drum led procession, often followed by a stage performance of traditional Ghanaian dance. A keynote speaker will then address the audience, noting the significance of the occasion and recognizing the hurdles overcome by the graduating students. Finally, each graduate is announced one after another, their academic major and any special achievements highlighted before being donned with a Kente graduation stole by a special guest of their choice. After all graduates have received their Kente stoles, final remarks are delivered by a keynote speaker, and the ceremony closes with students lining out in a procession. Donning of the Kente ceremonies are typically followed by a reception for students, staff, and guests.
The wearing of Kente cloth as a graduation stole goes back to 1993, when faculty at West Chester University wanted to honor the specific challenges overcome by their African-American students. The tradition has since spread to colleges and high schools around the country, with thousands of students donning Kente stoles every year at their graduation ceremonies.