Africa! Kuba people belt. raffia, cowry shells. glass BEADS. Kuba people belt (mukody mu-ikup lakiing). Democratic Republic of Congo. First half 20th century. a wonderful tribal art example made of raffia, cowry shells and glass beads. These objects were worn in ceremonial and funerary contexts by title-holding individuals. The belts are adorned with geometrically patterned rows of colored glass beads and cowries on woven raffia, representing the wealth and position of the owner.