Custodians of Kente Heritage

Weaving Communities

Ghana’s approved Kente weaving communities under GI protection.

If you are a weaver, or a member of a weaving family, you can register your work or your family’s tradition here.

Ghana’s Approved Kente Weaving Communities Under GI Protection

Guardians of Tradition

Ghana’s 2025 Geographical Indication (GI) recognition designates specific communities as the authentic sources of Kente cloth. These communities have preserved weaving traditions for centuries, passing knowledge from generation to generation.

Ghana’s GI Protection

Only cloth woven using traditional methods in these approved Ghanaian weaving communities can be legally marketed as “Kente.” This protection ensures authenticity, supports local economies, and preserves cultural heritage for future generations.

These six communities are spread across Ghana’s Ashanti and Volta regions, each preserving unique weaving traditions and cultural heritage.

Ghana’s six approved Kente weaving communities A stylised schematic of Ghana with southern Togo and Benin to its east. Six dots mark the GI-protected weaving communities. Three are in the Asante region: Bonwire, Adanwomase, and Ntonso. Three are Ewe centres in the Volta region: Agotime-Kpetoe, Agbozume, and Tafi Atome. SIX GI-PROTECTED COMMUNITIES ASANTE EWE / VOLTA GHANA TOGO BENIN Bonwire Asante · birthplace Adanwomase Asante · vibrant palette Ntonso Asante · Adinkra centre with Kente Agotime-Kpetoe Ewe · centre of Ewe Kente Agbozume Ewe · coastal Volta Tafi Atome Ewe · ancestral techniques Asante centre Ewe centre Ewe-language range
Fig. 1 Ghana’s six GI-protected Kente weaving communities. Three Asante centres lie in the Ashanti region; three Ewe centres are clustered in the Volta region, where the Ewe language continues across the modern border into Togo and Benin. Schematic, not to scale.

Bonwire

Asante

Birthplace of Asante Kente

Bonwire has woven cloth for Ashanti royalty for over 400 years. Legend tells of two weavers who learned from observing a spider’s web.

Adanwomase

Asante

Vibrant palette, intricate patterns

A major Asante weaving centre celebrated for innovative designs while maintaining traditional techniques.

Ntonso

Asante · Adinkra centre

Primarily Adinkra, with Kente production

Ntonso is the centre of Adinkra stamping in Ghana and also produces Kente. Its inclusion in the GI framework reflects its broader role in Ghana’s textile heritage.

Agotime-Kpetoe

Ewe

The centre of Ewe Kente

Known for distinct patterns and symbolic meanings different from Asante traditions. Agotime-Kpetoe preserves unique weaving techniques passed through families.

Agbozume

Ewe

Tradition meeting contemporary

A thriving Ewe weaving community specialising in both traditional Kente and contemporary adaptations. Weavers are known for exceptional craftsmanship and detail.

Tafi Atome

Ewe

Ancestral techniques, natural dyes

Tafi Atome preserves traditional Ewe weaving methods with minimal modern influence, including ancestral techniques and natural dyeing processes.

How the Registry Works

From submission to permanent record

Submissions come in three pathways — a master weaver profile, a weave pattern, or a cloth for authentication — through a guided form on this site, with no fee. Every submission is then verified by a Registry researcher working with sources in Ghana’s weaving communities. Verified entries are published to the public registry under a permanent Kente Registry number — KR-W for weavers, KR-D for designs, KR-C for cloths — which stays with that record for as long as the Registry exists.

The full process — submission, verification, the KR number system, and how to search the public registry — is set out on the dedicated page.

How the Registry Works →

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From These Communities

Register a Weaver or Cloth →
Search the Registry →
Read the GI Recognition →