Quote:
Originally posted by brooklineu:
Oh, I get it now=) We don't have that at my school - maybe it's an American thing?
I think those stoles are really cool! It would be fun to decorate one.
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Brooklineu & others,
The stoles that 12dn94dst displayed are actually Americanized versions of traditional Kente cloth from the Ashante (or is it Asante? African scholars help me out!) Nation of Ghana. If I am remembering my history correctly, the cloths are hand woven (the original ones, I'm sure a lot of the ones here are mass produced and marketed). The different weaves have different meanings based on the situation that you would wear it, your place in society, and, I think, special atributes about you (signifying bravery, for instance.) I also think these cloths were reserved for royal families and special high ranking officials. The sorority or fraternity are not 'authentic' kente cloth, but copies of them.