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.
The Kuba cloth technique involves first weaving a plain square of raffia palm fibers on an upright single-heddle loom. This is usually the work of Kuba men. It is very stiff when first woven, so it is pounded in a mortar to soften it. Then is is usually the Kuba women who decorate the cloth using different appliqué designs.
