Kuba Cloth

Kuba cloth is the embroidered and appliquéd fabric of the Kuba people of central Africa. To make a Kuba cloth a plain square is woven from raffia. Kuba cloth is very stiff when first woven so it is pounded in a mortar to soften it. This can cause holes which are a normal part of the cloth. These holes are sometimes covered with appliqué. The cloths are decorated with beads and come in a variety of designs and colours. There are over 200 designs and each is known by name to the local tribes that create these collectable pieces of art.