Antique Kuba Cloth #5

Stunning authentic Vintage Kuba Cloth - Hand dyed & hand woven in the Congo - formerly Zaire. Highly collectable.

Measures approximately 40cm x 75cm

Makes a beautiful wall piece hanging or framed.

The Kuba People The Kuba, also called Bakuba, are a cluster of about 16 Bantu-speaking groups in southeastern Congo, living between the Kasai and Sankuru rivers. The embroidered and appliqué decorated raffia cloths of the Kuba peoples are the best known survivors of an ancient African tradition of fine quality raffia cloth weaving that was once widespread across the whole of Central Africa.

Symbols in the After-Life The Kuba believe that high quality, correctly patterned raffia dress is key to being recognised by clan ancestors in the land of the dead, so families accumulate the cloths and pass them down through the generations.

Kuba textiles are a type of raffia cloth unique to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, and noted for their elaboration and complexity of design and surface decoration. Most textiles are a variation on rectangular or square pieces of woven palm leaf fiber enhanced by geometric designs executed in linear embroidery and other stitches, which are cut to form pile surfaces resembling velvet. Traditionally, men weave the raffia cloth, and women are responsible for transforming it into various forms of textiles, including ceremonial skirts, ‘velvet’ tribute cloths, headdresses and basketry.

Selling my collection of Kuba Cloth, vintage textiles and unique pieces, listing items regularly prior to travel.