Kuba Ceremonial Skirt

Ceremonial skirt of a man, made of raffia and decorated with applique work. The checkered thin borders indicate that it is a skirt for a Bushoong, or Kuba aristocracy.The applique work, beside being a decorative element, also fulfills a function. The freshly woven raffia is a stiff material and has to be washed and pounded to make it supple. As raffia is not very strong, the washing and pounding often result in holes which the decorative applique conceals.