Name/Title
Kuba Raffia SkirtDescription
KUBA STYLE, NGEENDE DANCE DRESS PANELS, DRC
Kuba skirts, Tcaka, long are cloths made from raffia, 8 - 25 feet long, from the Ngeende, Bushoong, and Ngongo peoples. They incorporate appliqued "patches", embroidered shapes and patterns, openwork, tie-dye, cowrie shells, barkcloth, and border elements. The appliqued "patches" originally repaired holes, and then developed into traditional design motifs. Most are covered with geometric symbols; many are restrained, subtle and rhythmic designs using one technique; others create amazing quilt-like assemblages of old pieces of many forms. The full skirts, worn by men and women, are bunched up and wrapped around many times.
Some of the panels are made from two to eleven pieces which are individually hemmed and can be separated.