Woman’s Skirt

Kuba group, Democratic Republic of the Congo, African

Early 20th century

Skirts of this type are are not worn every day, but for very special community events among the Kuba people. One such occasion is the celebration of a ritual dance called itul which is performed only on the authorization of the Kuba king. Women and men wear their finest traditional garments and perform dramatizations of Kuba myths of origin as well as enactments of historic events.

  • Titles Woman's Skirt (Descriptive)
  • Medium raffia
  • Dimensions 28 x 144 in. (71.1 x 365.8 cm)
  • Credit Line Gift of William and Jane Bertrand, 1985.571
  • Work Type skirt
  • Classification Costume