'Shoowa' Textile

Origin: Kuba Tribe, D.R. Congo
Composition: raffia, natural dyes

This square stitched pile-design textile is made by the Kuba Tribe in the Congo and fits comfortably in the class of some of the most incredible textiles found anywhere in the world. Historically traded as currency in the Congo and stitched by hand, the are used around the world as wall hangings, table mats, and covers for pillows and chairs, as well as framed and preserved. They inspire artists worldwide. These “Shoowa design” squares are prized by collectors, museums, and designers alike, and make incredible gifts.

The designs are the basis for work by artists such as Picasso, Matisse, and Miro. While men loom the fiber, women stitch the cloth and often brand themselves with the tribal designs found on the textile, which include longevity, protection, fertility and other ancient tribal symbols. During the 16th century, the Kuba people migrated from the north and settled between the Sankuru and Kasai Rivers. Today, they number 250,000 and are subdivided into the Binji, the Dengese, the Mbuun and the Wongo (Bacquart,  Tribal Arts of Africa).