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: 27 December 2021.

What is your name?

Peter Atsu Hanyabui.

How old are you?

About 40 years.

Where do you live?

Atiwuta.

What is your major occupation?

Kete weaving.

How long have you been weaving?

About 20 years.

Why did you choose kete weaving as your major occupation?

Kete weaving is a major source of employment left behind for me by my forefathers.

How did you learn the craft?

I learnt it from my brothers through observation and practice

What type(s) of kete do you weave?

I weave design kete such as “free education,” Obama, and Kufour.

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

I weave on order.

If you weave on order, describe the process.

Some customers make part payment before the job begins, then after the job is done the rest of the money is paid. Others pay in full before the work begins.

What raw materials do you use in weaving?

Yarn: cotton, miran and Asante ka (rayon).

How do you acquire the yarn for kete weaving?

I get it form retail stores at Agbozume.

Do you use the yarn kadada in weaving?

Yes.

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

Ɖoɖovi, tekpakpe, kokoku and bɔluxatsi.

Why do you adopt those designs?

They are the ones my customers prefer.

How did you get to know the designs and patterns?

I get them from friends.

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

Kokoku is about 4 years old but bɔluxatsi and ɖoɖovi are of ages.

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

Very popular, but only a few people around Agbozume wear them.

Have you invented any design or pattern in kete?

Yes. from my imagination. I did it in the year 2017. It started when a friend of mine asked that I should make a new design for him for his marriage ceremony. This was how I was able to invent my first design. It is in the form of klogo but my design has some flowers in klogo. To my surprise, just after the wedding, on that same day two people placed orders for those same designs. After that the design became popular and many other weavers adopted it and it is still trending in the market today.

Do you know any women weavers?

Yes, Mary Ameroda; she has been weaving for over 30 years now.

Norvi Hanyabui; she has been at weaving for about 4 years now.

What should we know about kete designs and patterns and their development over the years in Agbozume?

There are a lot of talented weavers in the system now. When one person invents a new design, other weavers pick it up and use it. So, you realized that it becomes popular and within a year that design begins to fade away. And weavers will be looking up for a new design. That is the trend now in the market.

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

Yes. At places like Atiwuta, Nogokpo, etc.

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

High cost of yarn. And there is lack of unity among weavers, making it difficult for them to have uniform prices for their products.

In your opinion, how should those problems be resolved?

All weavers should come under one umbrella to adjust prices of their products any time the cost of yarn increases.

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

It is lucrative and a major source of livelihood.

What is the importance of Agbozume market in the kete industry of southern Volta Region of Ghana?

It serves as a ready marketplace for kete weavers.