Basic 2 · Creative Arts · Thinking and Exploring Ideas
Craft Villages of Ghana
In this topic you will learn about famous craft villages in Ghana and the history of their crafts.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Name craft villages in Ghana
- Tell the story of a craft
- Explain why crafts are important
What you already know
- Visual art from other Ghanaian communities
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Visual Arts & Performing Arts
- Sub-strand
- Thinking and Exploring Ideas
- Indicator
- B2.1.1.1.1 – Explore own experiences to talk about visual artworks that reflect the history and culture of people in other Ghanaian communities
Introduction
In Bonwire, near Kumasi, weavers sit at looms weaving kente. Weaving has been done there for hundreds of years.
1. Famous Craft Villages
| Village | Region | Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Bonwire | Ashanti | kente weaving |
| Ntonso | Ashanti | adinkra printing |
| Ahwiaa | Ashanti | wood carving |
| Sirigu | Upper East | wall painting and pottery |
| Agotime Kpetoe | Volta | Ewe kente weaving |
2. Why Crafts Matter
- They keep our history and culture alive.
- They give jobs and money to artists.
- Tourists come to buy them.
Did you know?: Sirigu women paint their houses with patterns using natural colours made from soil and stones.
New words
- loom
- A frame used for weaving cloth.
- weaver
- A person who weaves.
- craft village
- A village known for a special craft.
- tourist
- A visitor who travels for pleasure.
Summary
- Bonwire is known for kente; Ntonso for adinkra; Ahwiaa for carving.
- Sirigu is known for wall paintings.
- Crafts keep culture alive and give people jobs.
Class activity: Village Cards
- Make a card for one craft village.
- Draw its craft and write its region.
- Share your card with the class.
You need: Pencils, Crayons, Old cartons, Manila paper, Kente, Adinkra samples
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which village is famous for kente?
- A. Bonwire
- B. Ahwiaa
- C. Sirigu
- D. Ntonso
Show answer
Answer: BonwireBonwire weavers make kente.2. Sirigu is known for…
- A. Wall painting
- B. Gold mining
- C. Fishing
- D. Beads
Show answer
Answer: Wall paintingSirigu women paint walls.3. Ahwiaa is known for wood carving.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueCarvers work there.4. Ntonso is in the Upper West Region.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseNtonso is in the Ashanti Region.5. A frame used for weaving is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: loomWeavers use looms.6. Give two reasons why crafts are important.
Show answer
Answer: Any two: keep culture alive, give jobs, attract tourists.Crafts help communities.
Homework
- Ask an adult if they have visited a craft village.