Kuba man at his loom, Nemwele village, Congo (Democratic Republic)

The photograph depicts Kuba man at his loom. The oblique angle of the loom is typical of southern Zaire. "The making of plush cloth, especially a finished ceremonial skirt, involves a fascinating back-and-forth alternation of work by men and women. Only men set up and operate the loom. The size of the weaving is determined by the natural length of the palm leaves. Most of the cloth panels are made in either of two shapes: a rectangle measuring approximately 30x60cm. to 50x100cm.; or a form approaching a square measuring about 50x60cm. to the largest, about a meter square." [Adams Monni, 1978: Kuba Embroidered Cloth. African Arts, 12 (1), November 1978, pp.24-39]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970.