Submit to the Registry

Register a Weaver, Pattern, or Cloth

Every entry in the Kente Registry begins with a submission — from a master weaver, a family custodian, a community researcher, or a member of the public who has come into possession of a cloth whose story should be preserved. This page is where that record begins. Use the form below to register a weaver, document a pattern, or submit a cloth for authentication; every submission is reviewed by our editorial team before it becomes a permanent registered record.

Use this form to add a master weaver, weave pattern, or cloth to the Global Kente Registry. Every submission is reviewed by our editorial team before publication, so that each record meets the Registry’s standards for accuracy, attribution, and cultural integrity. Most submissions take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete — the more detail you provide, the stronger the record.

The form supports three pathways

  • Master Weaver Profile — register a maker, their community, lineage, and craft.
  • Weave Pattern Documentation — document a named pattern, its meaning, and origins.
  • Cloth Authentication — submit a specific cloth for verification and inclusion in the Registry.

Before you begin

What you’ll need to hand

Registering a weaver or a cloth with the Global Kente Registry is a considered act of preservation. The form takes most submitters between 15 and 30 minutes to complete, and the more detail you provide, the stronger the record. You don’t need every item on this list to submit — missing information can always be added later — but the fields below are what reviewers look at most closely.

For a cloth submission

  • Clear photographs of the full cloth, front and back
  • Close-up photos of at least two distinct patterns or motifs
  • Approximate dimensions (length × width, in centimetres or inches)
  • The weaver’s name, if known
  • Weaving community and region, if known
  • Year or approximate period of weaving
  • Any known history of the cloth (commission, ceremony, owner lineage)

For a weaver submission

  • The weaver’s full name and any honorifics
  • Community, region, and workshop location
  • Years active (approximate is fine)
  • Lineage or apprenticeship details, if known
  • One portrait photograph, if available
  • Example images of the weaver’s work

If you’re submitting on behalf of a weaver, an elder, or a family, please indicate this in the form. We treat all lineage and provenance information with care and verify through established community channels before publication.

Registry Submission Form

Submit a weaver or cloth for inclusion

The submission form is hosted by KoBoToolbox, a secure data-collection platform used by the Registry. Loading the form will connect your browser to ee.kobotoolbox.org and may set cookies required for the form to function.

By loading the form you consent to a connection with KoBoToolbox. Your form responses are submitted directly to the Registry’s secure intake. See our privacy policy for details.

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What happens next

From submission to registry entry

Every submission passes through a structured review before it becomes a registry entry. Here’s the journey your submission takes.

1

Submission received

You’ll see a confirmation on screen once the form is submitted. A copy is stored securely in the Registry’s intake system. No entry is published publicly at this stage.

2

Initial review

A Registry editor checks the submission for completeness, flags any missing essentials, and contacts you if clarification is needed. This usually happens within seven working days.

3

Community verification

For weaver profiles and historically significant cloths, we consult with community elders, master weavers, and, where relevant, the traditional authority of the weaver’s region. This step honours the cultural custodianship of kente and can take several weeks.

4

Published to the Registry

Once verified, the entry is added to the public Registry with a unique KR identifier. You’ll receive an email with a permanent link to the entry. Corrections and additions can be submitted at any time.

The Registry is a collaborative record. If you notice an error in an existing entry, or have additional information about a weaver, cloth, or community, please use the form to submit it — we revise entries as the record deepens.