Dida Raffia Dance Skirt

Big pale eyes at the top, small ones at the bottom, and ribbed cloth in between.

This dance skirt is Dida, from Ivory Coast, 20th century, made of dyed raffia. The Dida bound raffia cloth tightly before dyeing, and the patterns that emerged, along with the crinkled surface they leave, gave these garments their life when worn in performance or celebration. Oval tan rings float across the red upper section. Narrow lengthwise streaks fill the middle in tight rows. Near the foot, a dark band holds more circles above loose strands in red and tan. Thirty-seven inches long and ten wide.

All that tying and untying, just to make something that sways properly.