To Be Heard and Be Seen: 20th-Century Ewe Textiles

Nii Quarcoopome, PhD, Curator of African Art, Detroit Institute of Art

Sunday, February 8, 2pm
Steiner Auditorium

Kente cloth is made by several groups in West Africa—the most recognized Kente is made by the Asante people of Ghana, and is worn by those who govern, such as kings and chiefs. Among the Ewe people, who are neighbors of the Asante, kente is an expression of one’s individuality, wealth, and status rather than leadership position. Quarcoopome will discuss design, technique, and meaning in traditional Ewe Kente textiles.

Ellen Friend Elsas established an endowed fund in honor of her parents, Edward and Hermione Friend, and their service to their community. Elsas is the Museum’s first Curator of Traditional Arts. The fund allows the Museum to present lectures that focus on the arts of Africa and the African diaspora.