240118 - Old African Kuba Ngeende Skirts - Tack long cloth, Congo.

Old African Kuba Ngeende Skirts - Tack long cloth, Congo. Size Total length 270 cm x 50 cm.
Kuba skirts, Tcaka, long are cloths made from raffia, from 8 - 25 feet long, from the Ngeende, Bushoong and Ngongo peoples. They incorporate appliqued "patches", embroidered shapes and patterns, openwork, tie-dye, cowrie shells, barkcloth and border elements. The appliqued "patches" originally repaired holes, then developed into traditional design motifs. .Most are covered with geometric symbols; many are restrained, subtle and rhythmic designs using one technique; others create amazing quilt-like assemblages of old pieces of many forms. The full skirts, worn by men and women, are bunched up and wrapped around many times.
The cloth is not fragile and can be pinned onto a wall or panel for display. To eliminate wrinkles, the cloth can be misted with water, and then gently ironed on the back.