Wife of Kuba notable wearing woven cloth known as ntshakishwepy, Mushenge, Congo (Democratic Republic)

"The fibres are dyed a range of colours, and applied in lines building up blocks of colour to form the distinctive patterns which characterise these cloths. A basic design is rarely worked out in advance and the pattern is simply created from memory in the course of embroidering. All embroidery is the work of women, just as all weaving is done by men. An iron needle is used to insert the threads which are lightly twisted so that they may be easily passed through the eye. The process is continued until all the desired blocks of colour to make the design have been applied. Complete cloths are embroidered in this way and also smaller strips which are sewn onto other plain or appliqued cloths to decorate the edges." [Picton J. and Mack J., 1979: African Textiles: Looms, Weaving and Design. British museums Publications Ltd]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from early March 1951 to July 1951, accompanied by his wife, Joan B. Elisofon.