History of broadloom weaving in Ghana

According to Adomako 2013, the head of broadloom section at the Centre for National Culture Kumasi states that, Japan is the origin of broadloom weaving and was introduced in Ghana in 1971 by Mr Lionel Kow Idan once the director of the then Ghana national Culture Centre now Centre for National Culture and the founder of the Department of Integrated Rural Art and Industry, KNUST. Mr Idan who learned the skill in Japan introduced two pedals in addition to the four which was then used in Japan. It is known that, the first design produced out of the broadloom was the “Nwotoa” and diamond designs which were both found in the traditional Kente.

In 1981 his Excellency J. J Rawlings the then president of the republic of Ghana organised  national art exhibition and when he saw the act of broadloom weaving he loved it so much that it was made to be introduced in all the regions in Ghana. Mr L. K Idan who had a broad vision of introducing broadloom weaving to second cycle and tertiary institutions across the country was then achieved.

L. K Idun also invented other types of loom which two of them are the Boku and the Betty loom which were named after his children.

Since his death in 1982, his great contribution to the Art fraternity and to national development thus his legacy still leads on.