Unrecorded artist, Kuba Peoples

Notes

The two-dimensional designs of Kuba raffia textiles are recognised as one of the great decorative traditions of sub-Saharan Africa.¹

Raffia textile production is deeply intertwined with Kuba life and society. Skirts and cut-pile cloths are the principal store of wealth, and a family will accumulate cloth, as other societies may accumulate cattle or money, so the participation of every adult is expected. For most adults, working on textiles is both a part-time activity and part of their daily routine. Textile production amongst the Kuba requires the interdependent contributions of men and women. The cultivation of the raffia palm and the weaving of raffia cloth are exclusively male activities, while the fabrication of the skirts is generally done by women. The women's skirts are approximately 6 - 9 yards in length and generally do not have borders. The men's skirts are much longer, consist of different sections, and are often completed with a raffia bobble fringe.

Besides being a primary store of wealth, raffia cloths have several functions. They are worn at special events to indicate a person's position in the social hierarchy. They form part of the annual tribute to the Kuba king at the end of the dry season and may form part of a special tax. Cloth also forms part of the bride price, and skirts and cut-pile fabrics are paid over to the family of the bride.

^1. Darish, P. J. (1989). Dressing for the next life: Raffia textile production and use among the Kuba of Zaire. In A. B. Weiner & J. Schneider (Eds.), Cloth and human experience. Smithsonian Institution Press.

Provenance

Michael Heuermann Collection.