A Variationist Sociolinguistics Study of Ewe Kente at Agortime Traditional Area in the Volta Region

Abstract

The proud kente cloth has knowledge and cultural heritage which has ceremonial, symbolic and authority about the wearer that is best known and mostly widely recognized of all textiles in Africa. Its unique features are wide and invokes powerful emotions as well as symbolizes the fundamental nonverbal codes ever imagined in Ghana which cuts across religion, ethnicity and instill national pride. The purpose of the study was to establish the unique message kente possesses and communicates to society as well as its status. Most of the existing writers center on textile weaving, tools and techniques in textile weaving and the aesthetic nature of kente. Though these writings are important contributions to kente, its nonverbal communicative codes have not been well documented. The adoption of the kente among Agortime-Kpetoe weavers was primarily influenced by sensory experience, fit, and interpersonal impact, which serves as an example of how several parts of the kente clothing are interconnected. The sociolinguistic theory is used as a theoretical lens in this work as well. The study made use of qualitative data for its purpose. 15 people were chosen to take part in the study using purposive sampling methods. Participants included kente cloth consumers and weavers. Data for the study was collected using an interviewing guide. Present the study’s findings before you conclude. The study finds that the Agotime Kente mostly use non-verbal codes to communicate. The study's conclusions showed that while most modern kente cloths do not communicate, certain distinctive ones do, particularly those that are currently being woven. These include clothes that express concepts of religion, rivalry, position, authority, and royalty to the user. This supports the belief of the Agotime society that non-verbal codes are more reliable and plausible for expressing royalty, authority, status, and communication between people. Keywords: Ewe kente, Symbols, Sociolinguistics, Communication, Agortime-Kpetoe