Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

Tiny patterns of pale lines fill each patch of this tan textile.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is raffia. The cloth is made from raffia palm leaves, which are gathered, dried, softened, dyed and stripped into fibers before being woven into panels and then embroidered. Long textile with patched tan sections, each ruled in fine dark lines of tiny grids, diamonds and boxes. A plain strip of cloth is attached near the lower end, and the edges are soft and uneven. It is 32 inches wide and 152 long.

A quiet patchwork, drawn with exacting small steps.