Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

Soft stripes of tan lines and tiny boxed marks run down this long cloth.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is embroidered & applique 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 tan and cream with a central seam and vertical bands. Fine drawn lines, grids and tiny motifs fill the stripes. The surface is gently creased, and the edges are straight with a bit of wear. It is 34 inches wide and 216 long.

Gentle bands of pattern, laid out with a ruler and affection.