Becoming a competent weaver: information literacy practice of the weavers of the Bonwire Kente Centre in Ghana

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines what constitutes competence and how a novice becoming a competent weaver is enabled by information literacy in the fabric-weavers’ workplace landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

Ethnography as a research design was employed using participant observation and semi-structured interviews as the data collection techniques.

Findings

Competence constitutes the demonstration of Kente knowledge and mentorship capability enabled by information literacy through access to the on-the-loom and off-the-loom information in the Kente-weaving landscape.

Research limitations/implications

This study explains how the transition from a novice weaver to a competent weaver is underpinned by information literacy.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies that contribute to the understanding of information literacy in the craft workplace. The study proposes a framework for weavers' information literacy practice.

Citation

Agyemang, F.G., Wessels, N. and Du Preez, M. (2023), "Becoming a competent weaver: information literacy practice of the weavers of the Bonwire Kente Centre in Ghana", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 79 No. 4, pp. 898-921. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-07-2022-0159