Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

Orange and cream panels bursting with black squiggles and small round accents.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is 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 alternating blocks of orange-red and cream, covered with black squiggles, hooks and small circles, with occasional violet touches. The bottom is loosely rounded and the surface looks lightly worn. It is 28 inches wide and 174 long.

Loud in the best way, and hardly out of breath.