Kuba is amongst the best-known textile of the ancient African tradition of raffia cloth weaving. Its geometric art forms have been the source of inspiration for artists such as Picasso, Klee and Matisse who respectively owned extensive collections.
Kuba cloth is made of very fine fibre from the inside of the leaves of young palm trees, called raffia. This fiber can not be spun like linen or cotton, but needs to be tied. Before that, the fiber, which is hard and extremely rough at the beginning, must be softened.
The men of the Shoowa are responsible for growing, harvesting and preparing the raffia. Once the fibers are ready, the work of weaving and embroidery is entrusted to pregnant women, who will devote many hours of work, sometimes even years to the most complex parts, which makes it an extremely valuable object.
The intricate patterns and designs of Kuba cloth are often believed to have spiritual and mythological meaning. For example, the circular patterns that are often found on Kuba cloth are believed to represent the sun and the moon, and are thought to bring good luck and prosperity to those who wear them. Other patterns may depict animals or plants that are considered sacred or have special meaning in Kuba mythology.
In addition to their spiritual and mythological significance, Kuba cloth and other textiles were also used to mark important events and ceremonies in Kuba culture. For example, Kuba cloth was often given as a gift to mark a wedding or the birth of a child, and it was also used to mark the passage of an individual into adulthood or to honor special guests.
