Raffia

The figure’s dress is made of raffia. Raffia is a plant native to Africa, especially Madagascar, and is often used for making baskets, hats, and mats.

Baskets & Hats
Straw hats for sale in Zambia. (Photo: © Hans Hillewaert via Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 4.0])

What would it feel like to wear the dress that the sculpture is wearing?
What would it sound like?

In parts of Africa, raffia is also used to build buildings.
Do these buildings look like this sculpture?