A love affair with the African Textile - Kuba Cloth

I feel excited as we have just taken delivery of a number of kuba cloths made by the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in Central Africa. Woven by men and embroidered by women these cloths are generally used for ceremonial purposes.

Kuba cloth is woven from raffia palm leaves and were traditionally used for dance skirts by both men and women. The basic kuba weaving unit, an undecorated square of plain cloth, the mbal was also used as a form of currency in the DRC.

I am a great fan of Kuba cloth; in fact I love Kuba cloth. I think it is one of the most beautiful, regal and amazing textiles I have ever come across. I am not the only one that have been captivated by these cloths, renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Paul Klee were also fascinated by their beauty and reflected the Kuba cloths distinctive geometric and zigzag patterns in their artwork.

Kuba cloth has a wide appeal and is available in many shops throughout the United States and Europe. I have certainly seen it for sale in the form of cushions and re-upholstered furniture in large retail stores, such as House of Fraser and featured in a number of home décor magazines such as Elle Décor and Living Etc. It has also featured in popular TV shows such as My Wife and Kids, All of us, Frasier and Law and Order. I have to say, whenever we go into a high street shop and see genuine Kuba cloth and other African art it makes us feel happy as it brings the beauty of Africa art and design to a wider audience.

Kuba cloth is as beautiful as it is delicate. Although raffia cloth is generally strong, you will need to treat it with care. Think of it as a long lasting relationship that you would like to preserve. Treat it with respect and it will repond well.

If you are looking for fabric to beautify your home or your surroundings then you will find it in the elegant and timeless Kuba cloth.

See Décor tips on www.kafele.co.uk for ideas on using Kuba cloth.

Where has the African sun gone?

I am sorry that I haven't spoken to you for a while. The summer months haven't worked out as well as they should have and instead of feeling perky, I feel a little bit under the weather. We had plans to spend a lot of time outdoors, in our little African art retreat. But as you know, rain and more rain put a stop to that! When we did have a few sunny days, it was such a shock to the system. By the time I recovered, those sunny days had passed me by.

Our daughter is now preparing to return to school and that is a stark reminder that summer is coming to an end and those Autumn months will soon be here.

On a brighter note, we managed to visit an African art exhibition in London. In fact, it was part of a wonderful culturally inspiring week-end we spent with friends. The exhibition itself was pretty small but it was enough to keep us occupied for nearly 3 hours! You see, when we start looking at African art it is serious business and nothing gets past our beady eyes!