00:00Enyonam Ahiyaduga is not just a kente weaver.
00:05Gana's iconic cloth is a fabric of her life.
00:09The 34-year-old widow and mother started out in a craft when she left school 12 years ago.
00:16I rely entirely on weaving to support myself and my children.
00:21I don't depend on anyone for financial help.
00:24With three kids to care for, this is all I have.
00:27Kente weaving is a way of life here in Agoteme Apokope in the Volta region.
00:34The traditional craft is not without some challenges today though.
00:39Weavers like Ahiyaduga can produce only small quantities on their manual looms.
00:45It's time consuming and the income is limited.
00:49One Ghanaian entrepreneur who is known the world over for his kente creations has stepped in to support them.
00:57Benjamin Owusu wants to modernize kente production, create jobs and boost revenue.
01:04We have our own machines within the weaving village which employs most of the youth here.
01:11Our machines add value, add a bit of logos, you know, to ensure that they have a wider reach with institutions that, you know, their products can travel to.
01:24With an eye on the future, Owusu is offering the weavers training tool.
01:29Our digitization drive, which involves digitizing the kente pattern.
01:36I think it's one way that we are helping preserve the pattern.
01:40Also, ensuring that there's an alternative livelihood and then training module for the weavers is another way that we can ensure that at least they are self-sufficient
01:51so that they don't abandon their looms and then travel out of these rural areas.
01:56Kente is always in high demand in Ghana and beyond.
02:01It's distinct patterns and motives, gracing weddings, celebrations and cultural events.
02:08With innovation and tradition working hand in hand, weavers like Enyonam are hoping to keep their centuries-old craft for generations to come.
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