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Kaba Ensemble

Artist/Maker
Akosombo Textiles Ltd
Place of origin
London
Ghana
Ghana

The ensemble is of printed cotton in the popular Ghanaian style know as a kaba and slit, or simply kaba, which consist of a kaba (sewn blouse), an abosoo or slit (wrapped or sewn skirt), and an akatasoo or second cloth (unsewn cloth), which was in this case worn as a headscarf.


Object details

Categories
Fashion
Womenswear
Africa
African Diaspora
Textiles
Object type
Kaba Ensemble
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Kaba
  • Slit
  • Headwrap
Materials and techniques
The printed cotton of this ensemble is produced by Akosombo Textiles Ltd and appears to imitate, in simplified manner, the strip-woven designs of kente cloth, a handwoven textile produced by the Asante and Ewe groups.
Cotton (Textile)
Brief description
Ensemble of a kaba (top), slit (skirt) and headwrap, printed cotton, Akosombo Textiles Limited, Ghana, 1990s
Physical description
The ensemble is of printed cotton in the popular Ghanaian style know as a kaba and slit, or simply kaba, which consist of a kaba (sewn blouse), an abosoo or slit (wrapped or sewn skirt), and an akatasoo or second cloth (unsewn cloth), which was in this case worn as a headscarf.
Dimensions
  • T.37 1 2022 width: 17.25in (Note: across waist)
  • T.37 1 2022 length: 27in (Note: shoulder to hem)
  • T.37 2 2022 width: 21in (Note: widest point across waist)
  • T.37 2 2022 length: 41in
  • T.37 3 2022 width: 46in
  • T.37 3 2022 length: 68in
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by Akua Appiah
Object history
This ensemble belonged to Dinah Osei (1946-2016). Dinah Osei was born in 1946 in Ghana and after attending teaching college, moved to the UK in the early 1970s.

Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.37:1-2022

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Record createdJune 19, 2021
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1637115/kaba-ensemble-akosombo-textiles-ltd/
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