Kuba Shoowa Dance Skirt

Black triangles stacked in columns down the middle, with a maze of hooked bands running all the way around.

This Shoowa dance skirt is Kuba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is embroidered and piled raffia. Kuba textiles are famous for their geometric inventiveness, and raffia skirts are traditionally worn for dances and ceremonies. The center field is filled with rows of small triangles in black and brown on natural raffia. Wide borders of interlocking hooks and angular spirals frame it on all sides, with a small patched section at lower left. It is 25 inches wide and 53 long.

A geometry lesson that is also a very good outfit.