Nana Nyarko Frimpomaa, the queen mother of Bonwire in the Ashanti Region, has voiced her discontent over being omitted from the upcoming Bonwire Kente Festival.
She alleged that the chief, Nana Bobie Ansah II, orchestrated the festival’s launch without her involvement or consent.
The chief introduced the festival to honor the Kente cloth’s origins in Bonwire, a tradition that has been celebrated for over 300 years. Efforts to obtain a response from the chief regarding the allegations have been unsuccessful.
In comments to the press, Nana Nyarko Frimpomaa condemned the exclusion as unfair and highlighted the festival’s importance to the community and its potential benefits.
Additionally, local weavers are advocating for the creation of a yarn factory to secure a consistent supply of high-quality materials. They recount the challenges they face in sourcing appropriate yarn and argue that a dedicated factory would support the preservation of Kente’s quality and heritage. They are also calling for stronger measures to combat widespread copyright infringement affecting their craft.
