Vintage kente stole presented to St Antony’s

St Antony’s is delighted to have received a vintage kente stole in honour of one of the College’s most distinguished former members, Rt. Hon. K.A. Busia, DPhil Oxon, former Prime Minister of Ghana.

The kente was presented by daughters, Abena P.A. Busia (DPhil History 1978–1982) and Akosua Busia on behalf of the Busia Foundation International, to mark the College’s 75th anniversary.

The kente, like the College, is believed to be around 75 years old. Its pattern, ‘Toku Kra Ntoma’, was significant to K.A. Busia, who chose it as a gift for his wife, Madam Naa Morkor, on the birth of their first child.

‘Toku Kra Ntoma’ (literal translation: Toku’s soul cloth) commemorates the soul of a warrior queen mother named Toku. Its predominantly white background symbolises the soul and purity of spirit. White is also a colour of celebration. Red represents fearlessness in Toku’s fight, green symbolises the land she loved, and gold represents royalty in soul.

K.A. Busia came to St Antony’s in 1964 while in exile, having led the United Party in opposition to Kwame Nkrumah. During his time at the College he completed his book, ‘Africa in search of democracy’. He became Prime Minister of Ghana in 1969.

The kente is now on display in St Antony’s Old Main Building.