Friends – we love this video clip of Kwasi at work in front of his large loom, plying his craft for the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.!!!!!!!! This video is very short – it is less than 1 minute long – but it gives viewers a wonderful up close and detailed look at the beauty of the artistic craftsmanship that goes into Kente weaving. When one can step back and observe the detailed interleaving of fine, colorful threads by a master weaver at his loom, it is easy to understand why Kente is such a magical and renowned fabric. Kente has phenomenal colorful patterns that capture our imagination and are visually pleasing to the eye; it has a texture that is beautiful, comfortable and pleasing to touch.
From the United Nations to the Smithsonian and through other organizations and educational institutions, master weaver Kwasi Asare has been a teacher and an ambassador for the culture and craft of Kente for many years. Kwasi has always sought opportunities to teach and conduct workshops and presentations so more and more people can learn about the history and beauty of Kente. As Kente becomes popular in the African Diaspora, throughout the Motherland of Africa and worldwide, we can see that Kente is part of what Cheik Anta Diop referred to as an “African Renaissance.” We can even say that Kente itself is evolving through its own special Renaissance.
As you watch the master weaver in this video, know that you can personally experience the beauty of Kente firsthand as Kwasi has created the world’s FIRST online Kente weaving course!!! Through his online course, Kwasi wants to make the joy, beauty and culture of Kente weaving accessible to as many people as possible. As we are still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic many people are spending much more time at home, now is the perfect time to try your hand at making your own Kente creations! Kwasi’s online course has 7 videos that teach you everything you need to know to start weaving Kente – and Kwasi is also available to provide additional guidance and support as needed. The course also includes a small loom and a starter pack of multi-colored thread material. At $25 for the course and $50 for the loom – the course is intended to make Kente weaving affordable to everyone! You can enroll and pay for the class on the link below; you can buy the loom in the gallery on our website or directly from Kwasi at kwasister@gmail.com or at (202) 569-5153.
Kwasi Asare: Master Kente Weaver, Mathematician, African Sage & Teacher 