Weaving an African Tale

The Kuba Kingdom - an old federation of 20 ethnic groups in Africa's Democratic Republic of the Congo - has gone by many names. The people of the lightning. The people of the king. The people of the cloth. And it's this last designation that forms the basis of the exhibit Weaving Abstraction: Kuba Textiles and the Woven Art of Central Africa now on display at the Textile Museum.

Woven baskets

Weavers displaying their wares

A look at the 1 of the patterns

Massive woven ceremonial skirts, some more than 8 yards long

Utilizing extreme patience and skill, Kuban weavers for centuries have transformed the leaves of the raffia palm, some of which can grow to be more than 80 inches in length, into works of art that served as everything from war shields to ornate storage baskets to funeral dressings.

Each weaver employed original patterns and motifs that would indicate the prestige and station of the recipient.  Critics have compared the diversity exhibited to the off-beat rhythms of the African drum music which influenced the American introduction of jazz.

The exhibit is on display until Feb. 12.

Tales, Tidbits, and Tips
It would be almost impossible not to be impressed with the intricate weavings. We considered buying one from the gift  shop until we discovered the purchase price - $875. Now, while the work was worth the cost, the price was too steep for us. However, if anyone is looking for a perfect gift for the Prices, I would suggest you visit the Textile Museum's gift shop and pick up 1 of those woven textiles.