The late former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings once described kente as the embodiment of Ghana’s royalty, pride, and cultural identity — sentiments she expressed in a documentary by Nana Amma Konadu Yiadom Prempeh, a BBC journalist and descendant of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh I.
In the documentary titled “The Importance of Kente to Ghanaians and Black Africans,” Nana Konadu — resplendent in a colourful kente outfit — spoke passionately about her deep connection to the cloth, emphasising its artistic and spiritual significance.
“Kente brings out the royalty of a people and the royalty of a tribe. Coming from a royal family, I’ve lived to see how kente has evolved in my lifetime. Its relevance is something we must preserve as Ghanaians,” she said.
Meet the Asantehene’s relation who took Ghana’s kente to the global stage
According to her, the relevance of kente was gradually being lost — a trend that inspired her to experiment with brighter colours.
“There’s a certain relevance in kente that we’re losing as a country. And for the longest time, nobody was wearing kente. I said to myself, I’m an artist; let me try and combine certain colours and see whether they can pick up on it again. Because the relevance of kente dates back centuries. It’s not only a cloth for royalty but also important for things that are happening in communities. So the relevance is numerous.
Bringing in more colour brought more young people to appreciate what kente is about and why they should wear it proudly as Ghanaians,” she added.
She also praised her niece for producing the documentary, noting that it plays an important role in preserving Ghana’s rich cultural heritage and sharing the story of kente with the world.
“The essence of preserving our culture is an important factor. The essence of knowing where kente started from, how it evolved from one region to another, from one ethnic group to another, and how the kings and queens of our nation have used this kente for the international community to know who we are as a people.
“Yes, I believe in kente, but most importantly, I believe that she’s done an excellent job in doing a documentary on kente. Bravo, Amma — you’ve done well,” she said.
The documentary, produced by Nana Amma Konadu Yiadom Prempeh, has been widely praised for highlighting the cultural and historical relevance of Ghana’s most iconic fabric. It explores kente’s evolution across regions and ethnic groups and its symbolic role in African identity.
According to The Ashanti Nation, Prempeh’s work contributed to kente’s recognition as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage asset.
Currently serving as Ghana’s Kente Ambassador, Prempeh continues to promote the country’s cultural identity globally through storytelling and media.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (1948–2025) was Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady and a transformative figure in women’s empowerment and cultural leadership.
As First Lady, she made deliberate fashion choices that reflected and elevated Ghanaian cultural identity — prominently featuring kente and other local fabrics, bold colours, and traditional headwraps (“duku”).
Her style helped redefine Ghanaian women’s fashion and demonstrated how culture could be powerfully embodied in public life.
Her promotion of Ghanaian textiles and styles helped build a stronger sense of national cultural identity, showing that traditional symbols like kente and duku could hold modern meaning and prestige.
Watch the video below:
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