Kuba Shoowa Dance Skirt

Ochre-gold, deep purple, and a few thousand stitches. Four and a half feet of Kuba raffia.

This Shoowa dance skirt was made in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 20th century. Within the Kuba Kingdom, decorated raffia skirts were worn at dances and important ceremonies, and their endlessly varied patterns were a source of pride for their makers. The central field is filled with interlocking maze-like motifs and diamonds outlined in deep purple, framed above by a narrow patterned band. Long side borders on a natural raffia ground carry chains of dark green zigzags and diamonds.

Fine stitching, a bound edge, gentle wear.

It would like the long wall.