People: Kuba (sub-groups; Lele & Shoowa)
Description: this Kuba textile is delicately made from raffia fibers which are peeled from the leaves of the raffia palm tree.
Not only a fabric, these textiles also represent wealth, in that they are the only cloth to be traded in the form of currency for various goods and services:
100 cloths = bride payment to parents
100 cloths = adultery fine
10 cloths = 1 axe
20 cloths = delivery of each child
Dimensions: 20 3/4" height x 26 1/2" width
