How to Wear Kente Cloth

Kente cloth was traditionally worn by royalty however in modern times they are worn by everyday people for special events such as weddings, naming ceremonies or funerals. Determining what kind of Kente cloth to wear depends on the event as the colors and weave patterns have meanings. First determine the message you would like to send by your choice of  color and pattern  and make sure it is appropriate for the event. Once you have decided on the cloth, follow these steps to wear it in the traditional manner.

How to wear Kente Cloth:

MEN (wrap as you would a Toga if the below is too complicated for you)

1. Put yourself in the middle of the kente cloth by holding opposite ends of the cloth in each hand, with the cloth behind you, adjacent to your back.
2. Drape the left end of the cloth over your left shoulder. The extra fabric will end up hanging on the inside.
3. Enfold the fabric from the right side underneath the arm and across the body and place it over your left shoulder.
4. Take the cloth that is covering the left arm and place it over the cloth on the left shoulder so both arms are now exposed and the bulk of the cloth is lying on the left shoulder. (Wrapping is quite similar to a toga style)  
   WOMEN
   Wrap the Kente Cloth around the body, underneath the arms (exposing the shoulders) and at waist or breast level. Coordinate with a solid colored blouse. You may also wrap Kente around the shoulders to wear as a shawl.
   

   

   some Traditional  Elders in Kente

   
   

   

   A Chief in Kente

   
   

   

   Elders In Kente

   
   

   

   Women in Kente

   
   

   

   Couple in Kente

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   Women In Kente