Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

Pale gold cloth, ruled with fine lines and a seam down the middle.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is embroidered raffia. Kuba cloth comes from the Kuba Kingdom in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where men and women work side by side to make cloths that carry a great deal of symbolism. Long textile in pale gold and tan, with fine ruled lines and faint boxed designs across the surface. A vertical seam divides the center and the lower end is a plain, slightly darker band. It is 36 inches wide and 208 long.

Gold, faintly lined and thoroughly unhurried.