Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

Eleven feet of raffia, wrapped round and round the body.

A tcaka is a dance skirt, and this one was made by the Kuba in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 20th century. The Kuba Kingdom was created in the 17th century when nineteen separate ethnic groups were united under one king, and its court fostered a rich tradition of raffia textiles worn in dance and ceremony.

Long skirts like this were wrapped several times about the wearer. This one is pieced from alternating bands of natural cream and dark brown raffia, each worked with linear embroidery in interlacing knots, diamonds and angular motifs. Soft creases and fading reflect age and handling.

Unroll it slowly. Let the music come to you.