Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

A scrappy collage of brown panels, small squares and tiny circles of pattern.

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. Abstract geometric designs on the cloth act as a visual language valued across Kuba society, and some say it grew from scarification patterns, crop patterns or even divine intervention. Long textile built from patched panels in brown and tan, with fine line designs, a diamond motif at the top and small squares and circles scattered near the lower middle. The sides curve unevenly and the surface looks softly aged. It is 26 inches wide and 137 long.

Patched with pride and plenty of improvisation.