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2004-15-157

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Akunintam (Cloth of the Great) (Fante) Maker Once Known, Fante People (Ghana)
Akunintam (20th century)
wool, cotton thread
340.0 x 209.0 cm
Gift of Mr. Peter and Dr. Anita Klaus
2004-15-157

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 akunintam is made of black wool cloth that is made of two pieces of wool sewn together. It is a trade wool blanket from England decorated with machine sewn embroidery in red, yellow, green, and white. The center of the blanket is divided into sixteen squares, each with an embroidered element in the center. Elements depicted include a stool, an elephant, a crocodile, a goat, chameleon, gun, umbrella, fish, porcupine, geometric motifs (of Islamic origins) and a sankofa bird (a backward looking bird).

Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah) is a Twi word from the Akan Tribe of Ghana that loosely translates to, “go back and get it.” Its literal translation comes from the Akan proverb, "Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri," meaning, "It is not taboo to go back for what you forgot (or left behind)." Sankofa is a phrase that encourages learning from the past to inform the future, reaching back to move forward, and lifting as we climb." Sankofa birds are mythical creatures depicted "with its feet firmly planted forward while its head is effortlessly turned backwards to reach an egg. For more information on Sankofa, visit this site about Adinkra Symbols and Meanings.