Ashanti Nwentoma or Kente Ceremonial Cloth

Orange cloth covered in small arrowhead motifs, striped in warm amber.

This nwentoma or Kente ceremonial cloth is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. Traditionally, kente was woven as thin strips stitched together into a toga-like garment, worn only by chiefs at festivals, on special occasions and during ritual ceremonies. Wide woven cloth in saturated orange and gold, covered with repeated triangular and arrow-shaped motifs in darker tones. Brighter orange bands run along the sides, and the edges show slight waviness. It is 127 inches wide and 78 long.

All that pointing, and every arrow going in an agreed direction.