Head ties are a common garment that is worn in a number of different countries in Africa. However, due to the diversity on the continent and the number of different ethnic groups, the way that head ties are produced and worn varies between countries, and can sometimes vary between regions in one country. As a result, we need to be more specific when talking about head ties, and so in this blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at Gele, a type of head tie worn primarily by women in Nigeria, in West Africa.
What are Gele and when are they worn?
Gele is essentially a type of head tie worn by women in the Western Africa country of Nigeria. In contrast to the head ties worn in some other African countries, like Ghana, Gele is usually rather large and ornate, and as a result, are associated with ceremonial wear rather than day to day usage. However, some women also wear smaller, less formal Gele for everyday activities.
Whether it is being worn for ceremonial purposes or as an everyday garment also affects the style of the garment, as ceremonial Gele will usually cover both the ears and hair of the wearer, whereas everyday Gele will only cover the hair. Gele comes in a range of different colours and styles, with each having its own meaning or association. Some will even denote that the wearer is of a certain social status, and so Gele forms an important part of social relations in Nigeria. At Empire Textiles, we have Gele in a wide range of colours, patterns, and styles, so you’re sure to find something to match whatever outfit you’re planning to wear it with!
How are they worn?
Gele comes as a flat piece of fabric, that is then wrapped around the hair and head of the wearer and tied into place. If worn for ceremonial purposes, they are usually extremely large and rise high above the head of the wearer. However, the beauty of Gele is that they can be worn any way you please, making them a very versatile garment. If you’d like to learn how Gele is tied, there are a multitude of instructional video online!
FAQs
Gele is essentially a type of head tie worn by women in the Western Africa country of Nigeria. In contrast to the head ties worn in some other African countries, like Ghana, Gele is usually rather large and ornate, and as a result, are associated with ceremonial wear rather than day to day usage.
What is the cultural significance of gele? ›
Traditionally, the Gele was used to represent a woman's marital status. If worn to the right, the woman was married, while if worn to the left, she was single. Because larger Geles cost more than smaller ones, they can also serve as status symbols in society.
What is the best fabric for gele? ›
The fabric of choice for a gele is Aso-Oke – originally a textured, tightly hand-woven, glossy, cotton cloth crafted in a variety of traditional patterns and colours. The threads now used in weaving are mostly cotton, silk, rayon and metallic lurex fibres.
Who can wear a gele? ›
The head wrap, which is called “gele” is a part of a woman's traditional attire in my culture. Female adults, typically from age 20 and above wear the gele as a sign of elegance and maturity.
What does gele mean in Nigeria? ›
The Gele is a traditional Nigerian head wrap. It is worn during special occasions as an accessory to the traditional 'iro' (a wrap-around skirt) and 'buba' (a loose fitting blouse). Gele is usually made out of heavy or stiff fabric that can be wrapped and molded into a specific shape.
What is the other name for Gele? ›
There are varying traditional names for headties in different countries, which include: gele (Nigeria), duku (Malawi, Ghana), dhuku (Zimbabwe), tukwi (Botswana), doek (South Africa, Namibia) and tignon (United States) Jewish women refer to their head ties as a tichel or mitpachat.
What is the description of Gele? ›
Gele is essentially a type of head tie worn by women in the Western Africa country of Nigeria. In contrast to the head ties worn in some other African countries, like Ghana, Gele is usually rather large and ornate, and as a result, are associated with ceremonial wear rather than day to day usage.
What is the difference between Ichafu and gele? ›
The name Gele originates from the Yoruba culture, which refers to as a woman's head wrap. In Igbo culture, the name for traditional hair tie is “Akisi or “Ichafu.” Gele comes in different forms, styles, colors, and sizes.
What is the normal length for gele? ›
Regular-headtie size 72" long × 36" wide.
What is gele material called? ›
Aso oke fabric, (Yoruba: aṣọ òkè, pronounced ah-SHAW-okay) is a hand-woven cloth created by the Yoruba people of west Africa. Usually woven by men and women, the fabric is used to make men's gowns, called agbada and hats, called fila, as well as women's wrappers, called iro and head tie, called gele.
It is known to have existed in Yorubaland as far back as pre-slavery era. In the past, It was commonly used with Yoruba traditional attire ” Iro & Buba ” but the recent re-invention of Gele with the touch of exotic styles in various extraordinary sizes took fashion to another level.
What does bimbo mean in Nigerian? ›
Abimbola (diminutive form as "Bimbo") is both a Yoruba surname and a unisex given name meaning "born with wealth".
What does a red hat mean in Nigeria? ›
The 'red cap' worn by chiefs in Igboland symbolizes authority, tradition, and culture; and it also represents the entire authority, and power in Igbo culture.
What is the origin of the gele? ›
The origin of gele as emanated from Yoruba culture and virtue is not exactly known. However, many archival photographs of over a century old suggested that gele must have been around much longer than the time those pictures were taken.
What is the significance of the turban in African culture? ›
Not only were they a practical way of dealing with the harsh weather, but headwraps also represented a woman's spirituality, wealth and social status within a community; it could indicate if a woman was a married young woman, a widow or a grandmother simply from its style, colour and design.
What is the significance of head wraps in African culture? ›
In some tribes married women were expected to wear headwraps when visiting their in-laws as a sign of respect and others wore headwraps when attending religious gatherings. The headwraps were also used as protection against the Sahara sun.
Why do some cultures wear head wraps? ›
Veiling was used to mark the differences between women's social standings and marital status. Throughout history, head coverings have been worn for a myriad of reasons. These include: spiritual beliefs, cultural significance, practicality, and fashion.
Gele is essentially a type of head tie worn by women in the Western Africa country of Nigeria. In contrast to the head ties worn in some other African countries, like Ghana, Gele is usually rather large and ornate, and as a result, are associated with ceremonial wear rather than day to day usage. However, some women also wear smaller, less formal Gele for everyday activities.
