Minneapolis Institute of Art

Woman's Ceremonial Skirt

Kuba artist

Date

20th century

Medium

Raffia, cotton, appliqué and embroidery

Culture

Kuba

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

It took several women many years to make this ceremonial skirt. It consists of numerous small panels pieced together to create a garment more than 12 feet long. On special occasions, it was worn over an inner skirt to form a voluminous, many-layered spiral. The striking originality of Congolese Kuba textiles is the result of an aesthetic that emphasizes experimentation and innovation within the framework of traditional geometric patterns. This skirt is unusual in that the appliquéd panels alternate with densely embroidered squares of geometric motifs, providing dramatic contrasts of form and texture. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

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