"Kente Cloth Neckerchief" -- Why?
Settummanque, the blackeagle ("MAJ)
Wed, 14 Jul 1999 22:27:58 -0500
I want to thank the many Scouters whom have sent me note helping me today
with my plight in getting seven Kente cloth neckerchiefs. I've found two
sources -- local Council Scout Shops(tm) that have them in stock and in one
case, is holding them until I can get our fax machine to make a
out-of-country call to their fax machine.
As a summary, here's the answer and two sources of the special cloth
neckerchiefs:
Ev Holm <ev@tannu.net> wrote:
>W634A found on page BS 1 of the 1999 Catalog, Leaders Edition. >$13.65 ea.
> National supply phone numbers are
>1-800-323-0732 and fax 704-588-5822.
(Thanks, Ev!)
-----------------------------------
Steven G. Tyler <sgtyler@erols.com> wrote:
>Just got off the phone with the Baltimore Area Scout Shop: yes, they >say
they have "40 to 60" in stock.
>The telephone number is 410-338-1700, and yes, they will accept the
>usual suspects (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) over the telephone. Hope this
>helps!
(Oh yeah, it *does help a LOT*, Steven on Cattail Creek!! Thanks!)
Thanks also to the following Scouters whom posted me privately providing me
with the BSA catalog number but unfortunately, their Council didn't have
enough or don't stock the cloth neckerchief:
Larry Fenter, James Taylor, Cheryl Singhal , Jim Peterson, Sarah Nunez,
Frank McArthur, Kyna Hendra, Skip Watkins, and Pat Driscoll, whom wrote me
this morning with:
> Mike, I called our liitle Scout Shop here and they not only have the
>neckerchiefs, but will hold them under your name until the end of
>bidness today. (17:30 Central Time).
By the time I got Pat's email, with the two hour time delay, it was too late
to call in. I'm hoping that Byron will hold them until tomorrow morning at
8am our time (9 in the CT zone).
>Byron at the Musselman Scout Shop, 210-349-189, in San Antonio,
>Texas would be happy to take care of you. He said you can call or fax
>and as long as you have a shipping address, he would get them out to >you
today with no problem. The Fax is 210-349-8468.
And thank you, thank you, thank you to those many other Scouters whom posted
me on my AOL account...there were many of you, and I truly appreciate
everyone's help in finding these things.
Now that I've piqued your curiousity (and because another Scouter posted me
and asked this honest question), here's why I'm wanting THESE neckerchiefs
to present to people here in Central America:
>I've been around Scouting for a long time but I don't recognize what it is
>you're asking for. Can you please explain what a "Kente" neckerchief is
>as opposed to a regular one? Is is something you can only purchase in
>Kentucky?
>
>Sorry, I really don't know but I figure that you'll provide me an
>education into what it is that's so special about those neckerchiefs. At
>any rate, my Council didn't have them...they're like me, didn't know >what
they were...so I'm sorry I couldn't help you out. But please tell >me what
they're used for! Thanks....
*broadly smiling* That's okay. A LOT of Scouters didn't even know they
existed until a while back when I first discussed them here on Scouts-L back
in 1997:
---------included posting-----------
Hi Vince! You asked:
>The 1997 BSA Catalog has listed a Kente cloth neckerchief acceptable >for
use with the uniform. "When someone does something good for the >community,
non-monetary, they are presented with a garment made of >Kente cloth. When
the grament is worn,the community knows that this >person is someone special."
This is similar to what we do when we present certificates, plaques and
awards to those within our communities for their service, strenght and
leadership.
>So says the catalog. I haven't noticed anything in the Insignia Guide
>about this. Is anyone aware of any requirements, or would this be >similar
to giving a plaque?
I look at it like when I attend a Eagle Court of Honor and present a special
neckerchief to that new Eagle Scout; or when I attend a Wood Badge
presentation and present a Wood Badge pin of the "Patrol totem" of that
person to him or her.
I would hope that lots of Councils and their units use the Kente cloth to
recognize local leaders and community "movers"....it was a long time in
getting it past the "traditionalists" and it was also a long time getting it
past some National staffers that thought it was "kinda silly" to give a
neckerchief to the local Fire Chief or a police officer in a neighborhood.
--------end of included posting--------
And because I spent last night researching what I am to say about these
special pieces of cloth, I went to the source:
--------start of included citation--------
<http://www.africancrafts.com/educ/index.htm>
Source: Instructional Services Dept,
Office of High School Instruction and K-12 Curriculum Services
Fairfax County Public Schools
Kente cloth is made in Ghana, a country on the west coast of Africa. Kente
cloth is known as the cloth of kings. The term "kente" has its roots in the
word "kenten" which means basket. The first kente weavers used raffia to
weave cloths that looked like "kenten" (a basket) and thus referred to as
"kenten ntoma," meaning "basket cloth." See below to add additional
historical background.
Kente is woven by men on narrow looms. The strip is woven 2 1/2" to 4 1/2"
wide, but is often a continuous strip as long as 200 feet or the length of a
football field. When the strip is finished, it is cut into equal pieces and
sewn together.
Kente cloth can be traced back to early weaving traditions in ancient West
African kingdoms that flourished between 300 A.D. and 1600 A.D. The origin
of the kente cloth is explained with both a legend and historical accounts.
A legend has it that a man named Ota Kraban and his friend Kwaku Ameyaw from
the town of Bonwire, learned the art of weaving by observing a spider
weaving its web. Taking a cue from the spider, they wove a strip of raffia
fabric and later improved on this skill. They reported their discovery to
their chief Nana Bobie, who in turn reported it to the Asantehene at the
time. The Asantehene adopted it as a royal cloth and encouraged its
development as a cloth of prestige reserved for special occasions.
---------end of included citation--------
One of the things that were recommended and approved by the BSA's Urban
Scouting Task Force in 1996 was the adoption of a special version of the
Kente cloth to recognize Scouters and non-Scouters whom have made
significant contributions to Scouting in their communities. This would be
different than the mere presentation of an office certificate or plaque,
because by the presentation, would spur this person to forever associate his
or her involvement in the development of youth with those of Scouting in
that community.
So far, the Kente cloth idea has only caught on in a few rural communities.
Even our larger cities don't use the Kente cloth (which explains why even
though places like Nashville, Atlanta and New Orleans had them, they don't
have very many because the demand isn't that great for them).
The Kente cloth neckerchief is NOT really designed for usage as a Troop or
Team neckerchief; it's a little larger than the standard one, but some urban
and rural Troops, attracted by the special design and the fact that it bears
NO "Scouting emblem", have used it as such. I believe that the Baltimore
Area Council even developed a script in which the Kente neckerchief is to be
presented to new Scouts.
The final point is, gang, that although the history of the Kente cloth
neckerchief is rooted in African lore, IT IS NOT A "Urban" nor "black unit"
award. It is a SCOUTING award, folks, and those in ANY community whom have
taken the time to assist your Pack, Troop, Team, Crew or Ship in an
outstanding and special way should be presented with this neckerchief (and
an appropriate neckerchief slide from your unit or an BSA neckerchief slide).
Again, thanks to everyone for assisting me in this project...and a special
thank you to those many Scouters whom came to my aid. It was funny
asking for help...I know now how many of you feel the first time you've
asked us all for help...and I know how it feels to get those answers I was
looking for!!
But then, isn't that what this list is all about?? *smiling from ear to ear*
Settummanque!
-----
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle)
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle
Joint Information Bureau Deputy Director
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APO Miami, AA 34042 (Soto Cano AB, Honduras)
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