This is a fabulous example of Traditional, Original, Antique Central African Kuba Raffia Ceremonial CLOTH from the Congo (Zaire) regions.  The fabric was created for tribal clan identity, trading, family dowries, wealth display and friendship.  Each piece was individually and painstakingly woven by hand from tree roots, raffia palm fibers and leaf-made dyes. Usually, the men did the weaving and construction of the piece and the women painstakingly decorated, dyed and wove in other components to finish off the piece, sometimes taking months to complete a small square.