Kuba refers to the region of the D.R. Congo, formerly Zaire, known to be the origin of cloth made from indigenous raffia palm. The Shoowa people live in this region.
The textiles have a variety of uses including for trade, as currency, as dowry, and funerary shrouds.
Women create yarn from the raffia palm fibres prepared by young boys. Men weave this yarn into a cloth panel, and women then embroider on it.
Like all Kuba shoowa cloth, the panel is dominated by diagonal elements. Throughout life, a Kuba man collects prestigious textiles like this for public display and to celebrate high status at his funeral.
Kuba refers to the region of the D.R. Congo, formerly Zaire, known to be the origin of cloth made from indigenous raffia palm. The Shoowa people live in this region.
The textiles have a variety of uses including for trade, as currency, as dowry, and funerary shrouds.
Women create yarn from the raffia palm fibres prepared by young boys. Men weave this yarn into a cloth panel, and women then embroider on it.
Like all Kuba shoowa cloth, the panel is dominated by diagonal elements. Throughout life, a Kuba man collects prestigious textiles like this for public display and to celebrate high status at his funeral.
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60 W x 110 L cm 50 W x 113 L cm |
