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2004-15-156

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Akunintam (Cloth of the Great) (Fante) Maker Once Known, Fante People (Ghana)
Akunintam (20th century)
wool, cotton thread
330.0 x 210.0 cm
Gift of Mr. Peter and Dr. Anita Klaus
2004-15-156

Man's wrapper (Akunintam) literally "cloth of the great" worn by men of high status among the Fante and related groups in the flan regions of coastal Ghana and Togo. According to the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of African Art,
"For centuries, Akan paramount chiefs and wealthy family heads have acquired and worn locally woven and imported cloth, literally enveloping themselves in wealth. The "cloth of the great" (akunintam) was worn primarily by important men from various southern Akan groups. These wrappers, resplendent with colorful embroidered motifs, were symbols of wealth, power and leadership."
Another example of an akunintam can be found at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art. This particular akunitnam was probably produced after 1957 because it depicts the Ghanaian national coat of arms--a shield flanked by birds-- that was adopted by Ghana at independence.

The akunintam pictured above is a large magenta wool blanket that is made of two pieces of wool sewn together. It is a trade wool blanket from England decorated with machine sewn embroidery. The edges of the sides are scalloped. The center of the blanket is covered with embroidered elements representing proverbs that allude to leadership. There is a shield with a star on top, "GHANA" written under it and flanked by two birds in flight, a chameleon and star with a crescent moon depicted to the right. There is a Royal State double sword with stars with a flower to the left. The line below that depicts a royal stool (a potent symbol of royal power among the Akan) with a porcupine (a symbol of a warrior) on top, flanked by two swords. A rooster and a plant are depicted to the right, and to the left, an elephant with a stool on its back faces a tree and is flanked by a gun and a sword. Above the shield are two more bands of embroidery depicting a royal umbrella flanked by two guns and a lion, two crocodiles sharing one stomach, a single crocodile. The top line depicts a European style crown with the center flanked by a fish and a crab to the right and a turtle and a snail to the left.