Ghanaian filmmaker and Kente ambassador Amma Prempeh, in partnership with Fredericksburg, Virginia–based nonprofit GivingTheAfricanDream, represented by its founder Oral Ofori, has honoured retired United States ambassador Pamela Bridgewater for her lifelong contributions to Africa and the African diaspora.
The honour saw Ambassador Bridgewater presented with a prestigious, custom-woven symbolic Kente cloth. The presentation was made on behalf of Amma Prempeh, who was unable to travel to the United States due to prior professional commitments.
The Kente cloth featured the elite Oyokoman pattern, regarded as the first and most prestigious of all Kente designs. Handwoven by master weaver Nana Kumi Boakye Yiadom, the cloth displays the traditional red, green, and gold colours symbolizing power and the royal Oyoko clan of the Asante people of Ghana.
Historically, the Oyokoman pattern has been associated with royalty and global icons. Legend traces the origins of Kente weaving to Ota Kraban, one of the craft’s legendary inventors. The design has been worn by notable figures including Muhammad Ali and former U.S. President Bill Clinton during visits to Ghana.
Ambassador Bridgewater is a distinguished career diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Ghana from 2005 to 2008, Benin from 2000 to 2002, and Jamaica from 2010 to 2013. She was also the longest-serving U.S. diplomat in South Africa during the country’s historic transition from apartheid, where she worked closely with Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress as a Political Officer in Pretoria and later became the first African-American woman Consul General in Durban.
She additionally served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and Special Coordinator for Peace in Liberia, roles that further strengthened her legacy of service across the African continent.
The honour is inspired by Prempeh’s acclaimed documentary, Kente Culture Story Documentary Film: The Importance of Kente to Ghanaians and Black Africans. Produced, directed, and funded by Prempeh, a BBC award-winning journalist and granddaughter of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the film explores Kente’s artistry, historical symbolism, and global relevance as a living emblem of African identity, pride, and resistance.
Since its premiere in Ghana in August 2023, the documentary has been screened internationally at prestigious institutions including Harvard Kennedy School, Howard University, the Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C., Ghana’s Mission in New York, the UNESCO Liaison Office in New York, the Luton Festival in the United Kingdom, and Memorial University in Canada.
The film has received endorsements from the Asantehene and won multiple awards recognizing creative excellence and tourism promotion. These achievements align with recent global recognitions of Kente’s importance. In December 2024, UNESCO inscribed traditional Kente weaving on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In September 2025, Kente further gained international protection when it became Ghana’s first Geographical Indication product under the World Intellectual Property Organization, safeguarding authentic handwoven Kente from designated Ghanaian communities against imitation.
The symbolic presentation reflects ongoing efforts to promote Ghana’s weaving communities, sustainable development, and cultural preservation. GivingTheAfricanDream selected Ambassador Bridgewater as its top honouree in recognition of her impactful service across Africa and her enduring support for African heritage.
During the presentation, Mr. Ofori and Ambassador Bridgewater also discussed future opportunities aimed at supporting Ghana’s cultural heritage initiatives and sustainable development efforts.
Written by Abeeb Lekan Sodiq
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