Kente GI Status Bonwire Ghana secures legal protection for Kente fabric, sparking calls for Yoruba to follow with Adire, Aso Ofi, and Juju music

Kente GI Status Bonwire Ghana has gone viral after it was confirmed that the traditional Ghanaian textile has received Geographical Indication (GI) protection, legally anchoring Kente’s identity to Bonwire, the cultural hub where it originates.

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The update, shared by cultural advocate Adé olú Ò̩ṣádáre (@adeoluorisa) on X (formerly Twitter), celebrates the milestone as a powerful move to protect African heritage and limit cultural appropriation.

Under the new status, it is now illegal to produce or market Kente under that name outside Ghana’s Bonwire region without official approval.

“There is no English name for Kente. This is how you connect with your historical identities to safeguard your future,” Ò̩ṣádáre wrote, applauding the move as both a cultural and economic breakthrough.

The GI status is expected to boost the prestige and global respect for Kente, giving its weavers ownership and economic control over their art, much like Champagne is protected in France.

Ò̩ṣádáre also used the opportunity to challenge other African cultural regions, particularly the Yoruba, to pursue similar protections for Adire, Aso Ofi, and even Juju music.

“This is what the Yoruba could do with Adire, Aso Ofi, Juju music. It’ll empower the people’s prestige, boost economy and respect.”

Experts say that obtaining a GI status is a key step toward ending the mass production and mislabelling of indigenous African creations by foreign companies.

Such status not only safeguards cultural identity but also creates export value and sustains local economies.

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With Bonwire’s Kente now internationally protected, attention may now turn to Nigeria and other African nations to follow suit and formalise protections for their intangible cultural assets.