AGBOZUME KENTE WEAVERS ASSOCIATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

*For our purpose, Agbozume area comprises Sόme, Klikor and neighbouring Anlo communities.

*The questionnaire relates to former kete weavers and weavers currently practicing the craft.

* The questionnaire was adopted in individual interviews without the presence of other respondents.

* Date of interview: 28 December 2021.

What is your name?

Godwin Ameshime

How old are you?

58 years.

Where do you live?

Nogokpo Agbevekope.

What is your major occupation?

Kete weaving.

How long have you been weaving?

Over 40 years.

Why did you choose kete weaving as your major occupation?

It is a lucrative and quick-money job. It is even better than some white collar jobs.

How did you learn the craft?

I learnt the craft from my father by observing and practicing.

What type(s) of kete do you weave?

Kadzeyibↄ, shine and noviga.

Do you weave on order, or you sell the product at Agbozume market?

I sell my products at Agbozume market.

What raw materials do you use in weaving?

Yarn: cotton and miran.

How do you acquire the yarn for kete weaving?

I buy it at Agbozume market.

Do you use the yarn kadada in weaving?  

No. I have no idea about kadada.

What types of designs and patterns do you weave in kete?

Koglo, kpↄtsui and gleshi.

Why do you adopt those designs?

They are trending in the market.

How did you get to know the designs and patterns?

I knew about these designs from my father.

How old are those designs and patterns that you weave in kete?

Very old, over 20 years.

How popular are they? Do people of Agbozume and neighbouring areas wear kete with those designs and patterns?

They are well known but people around Agbozume do not wear them.

Have you invented any design or pattern in kete?

No

Do you know the person who first wove any of the designs you adopt?

Yes, the name of the design is kpↄtsui. It was invented in 1986 by my father, Mr. Kↄsivi Ameshime. He said he got the idea from a design he wove while at work in Nigeria. After his return, he decided to do something similar to that. According to him the design got the attention of both customers and fellow kete weavers the very day he sent it to the market. Most of us adopted that same design and it still trending in the market.

Kↄsivi Ameshime’s invention: kpↄtsui

Do you know any women weavers? 

Yes, Berthar Kumi; she has been in the business for the past 35 years.

Is kpe-evee vɔ woven today in Agbozume and neighbouring area?

Yes, at places like Nogokpo, Atiwuta and Agbevekope.

What challenges do you face in practicing your craft? How do you deal with them?

I often experience waist pains, and I normally visit the hospital for check up to regain my strength.

Are there any obstacles discouraging the kete industry in Agbozume area?

There are the exorbitant increases in prices of materials especially yarn, but customers refuse to adjust the prices of our products when prices of raw materials go up. This is making it difficult for some of us to break even.

In your opinion, how should those problems be resolved?

I would suggest that all weavers across board should come under one umbrella and make sure that any time prices of materials go up there is a corresponding increase in the prices of our products. Then also there is an issue of middlemen who do not like weaving kete but are making a lot of fortune from the extortion in the market.  These people should be kicked out of the market system.

Why do you think the kete industry in Agbozume and neighbouring areas has survived up till now?

It is because there is no alternative full-time job for majority of youth in Agbozume and its surroundings.