Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

Black lattice on straw ground, stitched into a long run of interlocking mazes.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is woven & 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. Narrow tall strip made of stacked squares, each bearing a thick black interlaced pattern on a pale tan field. The seams between squares show clearly, and the bottom squares appear slightly smaller and tighter. It is 157 inches wide and 24 long.

A tidy tangle with excellent posture.