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?

Kwame Alorse.

How old are you?

37 years.

Where do you live?

Nogokpo-Kugbagbokope

What is your major occupation?

Farming.

Are you a kete weaver?

Yes.

How long have you been weaving?

28 years.

Why did you choose kete weaving as your major occupation?

It is the only source employment in my area.

How did you learn the craft?

I was taught by my father.

What type(s) of kete do you weave?

Kpe-vee vɔ and design kete such as “free education.”

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

I do both.

If you weave on order, describe the process.

I request full payment before the work begins. I do this because of my experience in which a customer gave me part of the money, and collected the product, but refused to pay the rest of the money up to date.

What raw materials do you use in weaving?

Yarn: cotton, rayon and silk.

How do you acquire the yarn for kete weaving?

I buy it at Agbozume market.

Do you use the yarn kadada in weaving?  

Yes.

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

Tekpakpe and hotsui.

Why do you adopt those designs?

Customers like them.

How did you get to know the designs and patterns?

I learnt them from friends.

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

About two years old.

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

Very popular, and people around Agbozume wear them.

Have you invented any design or pattern in kete?

Yes. I did it in the year 2021, and I named it afↄkpavi (small sandals). It happened that I bought a new pair of sandals. After looking at the footprint of the sandals I realized it looked very nice so I decided to pick it as a design in kete. Fortunately for me when I got to the market with that design, the reaction from the customers was very positive. From there most of my colleagues (weavers) also took it up and started weaving that same design and to date, that design is still trending.

Alorse’s invention: afↄkpavi

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

Yes, at places like Avloto, Nogokpo, Atiʋuta and Agbevekope.