Ghana Textiles – Asia InCH – Encyclopedia of Intangible Cultural Heritage

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Cloth has been serving as a valued trade commodity as early as the eleventh century and continuing till the present time as a vital art form. Like all African textiles, Ghanaian cloth/ textiles communicate on many different levels, through their bold designs offbeat rhythms and motifs. Even machine woven or printed fabrics today are used to communicate on various levels. Just like in every other society, cloth or textiles is so much a part of the everyday life of Ghana which is easily taken for granted.

What is seen in Ghana today in terms of textiles is an eclectic mix of local and imported textiles for sale. The local comprising long established production centres of spinners, weavers, dyers, embroiderers, tailors and sales points with the possibilities for new forms and trade networks. European trading from the 16th century introduced the "fancy" printed textiles to Ghana known as the Java or Wax prints which were developed to satisfy the general West African need. These have had a significant bearing on the present state of textiles in Ghana. Ghanaian Textiles can be identified in broad groups as:-