Post Date: 29 August 2018
Kuba Ngende Cloth Ceremonial Over Skirt – DR Congo
Mid 20th century. Raffia Vinifera fibers. Approximately cm. 480,0 x 90,0 (188.98″ x 35.43″).
Ceremonial wraparound skirt from Kuba Ngende worn by the village chief or title holder at festivities and ceremonies. Only they are allowed to wear the texile with pattern blocks (matweemy).
The Kuba (or Bakuba) peoples are famous for producing beautiful fabrics (Ntchaks) from fibers of the palm Raphia Vinifera. It is tough material, difficult to work with. It is soaked for weeks, then it is kneaded, in order to soften the threads. This lengthy process, as well as the weaving was done by men – whereas the embroidery and other sorts of embellishments were done by women. The process of making a Ntchak of this size could take months.