Kente cloth, known locally as nwentoma, is a type of silk and cotton^{[citation needed]} fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan and Ewe people of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo.

Kente cloth has its origin with the Akan people. It is a royal and sacred cloth worn only in times of extreme importance and was the cloth of kings. Over time, the use of kente became more widespread. However, its importance has remained and it is held in high esteem in the Akan family and the entire country of Ghana.

In Ghana, kente is made by the Akan people (including the Asante, Bono, Fante, and Nzema). Kente is also produced by Akan groups in Cote d'Ivoire, such as the Baoule and Anyin, which trace their ancestry back to Ghana before the rise of the Ashanti Empire. Lastly, Kente is worn by other groups such as the Ewe and Ga who have been influenced by Akans. It is the best known of all African textiles. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means basket. The Akan peoples refer to kente as nwentoma or woven cloth.