Textile arts of the Anlo Hetsofui clan a historical acuity

Abstract

Anlo is one of the sub-groups of the Ewe people who speak the Anlo dialect (Anlogbe). The Hetsofui clan is one of the 15 clans of the Anlo and has been involved in various traditional artistic practices as part of their culture and heritage. In times past, the Anlo Hetsofui clan was known for producing various art forms including textiles arts on commercial scale which has socioeconomic impact on the people but the textile arts keep fading in recent times. The study seeks to identify and describe the characteristics, symbolic functions and documentation of the textile arts of the Hetsofui clan. The study employed qualitative research, using descriptive research to identify and examine the textile arts. Qualitative research was used for the study because it allowed for a detailed description of the textile arts and facilitated close interactions between the researcher and the participants in their natural settings. Twenty-four (24) participants were purposively chosen, and data were collected using a semi-structured interview and participant observation. The findings, among others, indicated that the textile arts of the Hetsofui clan include the characteristics, symbolism, and functions of Ketiba, Aflagba, Gbadze, Papa, Kevi, Bayaxa, Tsatsa, and Kete, all of which have been documented in this study. The arts of the Hetsofui clan are mostly associated with their daily livelihood including social, cultural, religious and chieftaincy purposes. It is recommended that these artefacts be produced by artists with the active support of chiefs, queens, opinion leaders, and indigenes, in order to enhance aesthetic value, promote appreciation, and ensure the preservation and sustainability of their cultural heritage