Mangbetu women's clothing, Medje village, Congo (Democratic Republic)

The photograph depicts woman wearing traditional barkcloth 'negbe'. "The main item of women's clothing was a rectangular barkcloth garment called 'nogetwe'. Worn like a short skirt or sometimes like an apron, it was left open to reveal the 'negbe', or back apron. Women generally wore barkcloth when they were not at work and when strangers were present." [Schildkrout E., Keim C., 1990: African Reflections, University of Washington Press]. During his trip to Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited the Mangbetu people living in Medje village, southwest of Isiro. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for National Geographic and traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970.