Annual Kente Stole Ceremony on Friday, May 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Clayton Hall – The University of Delaware will honor graduating seniors of African ancestry at the annual Kente Stole Ceremony to be held at 7 p.m., Friday, May 28, at Clayton Hall. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with a light reception. Please RSVP by Tuesday, May 11th by emailing Sharon Warren – slw@udel.edu or by calling 302-831-2991.
The Kente stole is a ceremonial garment worn as an acknowledgment of African ancestry, and it symbolizes accomplishment, community, unity and pride.
During the Kente Stole Ceremony, graduates will be draped in the stripes of Kente, a colorful cloth stole native to Ghana and developed in the 17th century by the Ashanti people. The traditional ceremony, often reserved for special occasions or royalty, includes elements of history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, religious beliefs, social values and political thought.
UD’s Kente Stole Ceremony is sponsored by the Center for Black Culture and the Black Student Union.