Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

A cream lattice of crossing diagonals fills this narrow strip bordered by deep brown.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is woven & 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. Narrow textile with a woven-looking lattice pattern of cream diagonals on a brown field, bordered by plain dark brown bands. A small tear or notch sits low on the right edge, and the surface is lightly worn. It is 32 inches wide and 215 long.

Tightly latticed and not a bit unsettled by its notch.