Skirt (Nshak)

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-principal attire (lower body)

Culture Kuba

Dateearly to mid 20th Century

Made AtDemocratic Republic of the Congo

MediumRaffia panels and cotton

Dimensions31 × 203 in. (78.7 × 515.6 cm)

Credit LineAnonymous Gift

Object number2016.15.28

DescriptionNshak are midcalf-length skirts worn by Kuba women in the Democratic Republic of Congo made of red and white raffia weaving. Usually, men will make the base cloth (a process that includes dyeing and softening raffia leaves and then weaving them into cloth) and women will decorate the skirts with embroidery in black thread or patches of cloth. Nshak can be betrothal gifts woven for a bride by her husband-to-be and decorated by his female relatives.

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