BUSHOONG/KUBA, Democratic Republic of Congo. Textiles, whether worn on the body as clothing or displayed independently, were central to the cultural expression of the Kuba. Raffia, made from the leaves of the raffia palm, is prepared and woven by the men on horizontal single-heald looms, then given to the women who meticulously sew, dye and decorate. This large, magnificent ceremonial loincloth, "Ntsahkishwepy", made up of several strips woven together, probably belonged to a noblewoman. A museum-quality piece. 510 x 84 cm. (minor wear and tear). Literature: Darish, Patricia. 1989. "S'habiller pour l'au-delà: production et utilisation textile de raphia chez les Kuba du Zaïre". In Cloth and Human Experience, edited by Annette B. Weiner and Jane Schneider, 117-40. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.