Cultural Traditions: The Gele

Though not specific to weddings, a recent video of a woman on TikTok who was having a gele headwrap created and getting ready for a family wedding sparked my interest in the Nigerian fashion staple.

I had seen gele headwraps before, but never knew the cultural or historical significance behind the stunning garment. And what I have discovered since is a beautiful reflection of femininity within an African culture, that seems to have now made its way throughout the continent.

The Council for International African Fashion Education (CIAFE) notes that the gele is a head tie primarily worn by the women of Nigeria and West Africa, with its origins lying in the Yoruba culture – although its specific beginnings are hard to trace. The gele is typically used for special occasions – as an addition to the traditional ‘iro’ (a wraparound skirt) and ‘buba’ (a loose-fitting blouse) – and is a way to represent a woman’s marital status. Ciafe notes that if a gele leans to the right side it suggests that the woman is married, if it leans to the left the woman is single. Additionally, the headwrap could represent societal status – given that larger geles would cost more than smaller ones, so the larger the gele the more status the woman possessed.

The gele is typically made with a heavy, stiff fabric with the most popular version worn by the Yoruba – the ‘aso oke.’ According to World Bride Magazine, the “aso oke is originally a ceremonial fabric woven locally in Nigeria and is made up commonly of strands of cotton and/or silk.” The fabric is meant to be stiff and flexible to hold the molded shape of the gele. When molded around the wearer’s head, the gele only leaves the face and lower part of the earlobes exposed, covering the whole head and ears.

The incredibly fascinating aspect (to me) is the number of different wraps and styles that the gele can be worn. The CAIFE lists eight different styles that include Infinity Pleats Gele, Butterfly Gele and the Rose Gele. Plus, with modern interpretations of the tradition, World Bride Magazine notes that women are turning the gele into the focus of their whole attire including scalloped edges, beading, sequins, hand painting and more.

This is a simple explanation of a beautiful tradition that’s been around for generations, however it’s nice to know that more and more women are embracing this part of their culture when it comes to weddings and other memorable special occasions.

If you wore a gele for your wedding, let us know! Send pictures and some wedding details to LTEC@myneworleans.com.