The Crowning Glory of Gele | Empire Textiles Blog (2024)

FAQs

What does the gele head wrap symbolize? ›

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.

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.

Historically, a gele would depict a woman's marital status, if worn on the right she is married, but on the left she is single. Most times, they are status symbols because bigger geles are more expensive. Nowadays, it is the aso-oke gele that is in vogue, it is usually not too extravagant.

The practices dates back to pre-colonial African history in sub-Saharan Africa, and head wraps were considered symbols of status, marriage, and family lineage. During the Transatlantic Slave Trade, they were one of the few cultural pieces enslaved Africans were able to bring to the Americas.

Traditionally the head wrap belongs to Black, indigenous, people of color, and wearing one can often be an act of cultural appropriation. If you're white, it's likely best not to wear head wraps in public, in the West; to leave it for wear by those people and cultures with a historical attachment to the head wrap.

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.”

Regular-headtie size 72" long × 36" wide.

Traditionally, African ladies would wear headwraps to protect their hair and heads from the strong sun and keep cool in the hot weather.

“I charge N25,000 to train people for two weeks to one month. “I get calls for home service and I charge between N2,000 and N5,000, depending on the distance. “Many of the gele styles invented daily are being acquired and learnt, which makes it a profit-making venture for both the trainer and the trainee.

Even in developed countries like the United Kingdom, the queen wears a hat. That is her own crown or gele. Every married woman wears her gele. They are the queen of their husbands.

What is the meaning of gele? ›

: a jellied food : an edible jelly. peach gelée.

The headwrap originated from Africa and is traditionally worn by women in many different countries. They are called 'Duka' in Ghana, 'Gele' in Nigeria and 'Doek' in South Africa. The chosen style of headwrap worn by African women can display information about their marital status, and social and economic background.

The commonality in most religions is that head coverings are viewed as a sign of modesty, and/or embody both religious customs and practical purposes.

Headwraps originated in Sub-Saharan Africa in the early 1700's and soon became prevalent among Nubian queens in Egypt. Headwraps had distinct meanings depending on the color and pattern. In the beginning of the 18th century, these designs communicated a woman's cultures and family practices.

Wearing a hair wrap not only allows you to control the shape of your hair during the night but also prevents the atmosphere from affecting it. Dry air will not cause it to become brittle overnight. On the other hand, moisture in the air will not cause its volume to expand.

The short answer is simple: yes, if you are white, you can wear a head wrap.

Anyone can wear a turban , even white culture. Again, the turban has been worn for many centuries, in many styles, among different ethnicities, with different fabrics, for many reasons.

A form of headscarf, known as the hijab, is often seen in Muslim countries and is born out of tradition. It is worn by some Muslim women who consider it to be a religious ordainment, and its style varies by culture.

/ʃɪˈnjɒn/ A chignon is a sleek, elegant hairdo that's similar to a bun.

What is another word for come together? ›

Some common synonyms of gather are assemble, collect, and congregate. While all these words mean "to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit," gather is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state.

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The material to make the Gele is usually stiff but flexible such as Aso-oke (thickly woven silk), Brocade ( Cotton) and Damask. These materials come in a wide range of colours, patters and textures. Gele tying is an art form and requires patience when doing it.

Price: #18,000/2pcs Last Price!!!! This is the best price you can ever get for this Quality... In and out beauty.

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.

Gele is an important accessory in the traditional wardrobe of Nigerian/African women. It is an important part of their dressing. Gele which is called Ichafu in Igbo language is used to complement the iro and buba in Yoruba and goes along with Igbo's blouse and wrapper.

The 'red cap' worn by chiefs in Igboland symbolizes authority, tradition, and culture; and it also represents the entire institution of leadership, authority, and power in Igbo culture.

In Nigeria a head tie is called a gele — that's the word used by the Yoruba, one of the country's many ethnic groups.

In Nigeria, the head-ties are known as gele (a Yoruba-language word and attire), and can be rather large and elaborate. Although the gele can be worn for day-to-day activities, the elaborate ceremonial ones are worn to weddings, special events, and church activities.

The first lady is not an elected position; it carries no official duties and receives no salary. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president.

What is the male version of First Lady? ›

The male equivalent of the title in countries where the head of state's spouse has been a man, such as the Philippines or Malta, is first gentleman. While there has never been a male spouse of a U.S. president, "first gentleman" is used in the United States for the male spouse of a mayor or governor.

Both terms worked when the woman filling the role of White House Hostess was the spouse of the President, but came up short in describing bachelor James Buchanan's niece, Harriet Lane. To remedy the problem, Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper used the term “First Lady of the White House” to describe her.

Agbada is seen as a formal attire which is commonly paired as a 3-piece set; an open-stitched full gown, a long-sleeved shirt, and Sokoto (trousers that are slim along the ankle). Gele is traditionally a garment worn/wrapped around the head.

The African headdress is an elaborate piece of art worn on the head to denote one's high position in society. People in leadership positions, administrators or spiritual leaders, and sometimes the wealthy in society, often wore headdresses on special occasions.

Though the oval red cap and woolen cap are worn today by most men to complete their Igbo outfit, it is a symbol that is intended for high-ranking Igbo men from Eastern Nigeria. The Igbo red cap is a symbol of authority, tradition, and culture, and indicates the conferment of a chieftaincy title.

Covering the head focuses the energy at the third eye.

Yogi Bhajan, the father of Kundalini Yoga in the West, emphasized the importance of head coverings during practice as a means to focus and contain your energy and clarify your thoughts, creating a meditative focus at your third eye or Ajna Chakra.

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.

The Mennonites found what they were looking for in the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 11: 1-16, which states, among other things, that “… every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head”. The caps also symbolized a woman's submission to her husband, as head of the household.

: a jellied food : an edible jelly. peach gelée.

// In Jamaica, the Nyabinghi Rastafarian women wear modest wraps to protect the power in their locs and to show respect for God. In some cultures, head wraps are worn as a sign of maturity.

What is the meaning of the African headwear? ›

The African headdress is an elaborate piece of art worn on the head to denote one's high position in society. People in leadership positions, administrators or spiritual leaders, and sometimes the wealthy in society, often wore headdresses on special occasions.

The headwrap originated from Africa and is traditionally worn by women in many different countries. They are called 'Duka' in Ghana, 'Gele' in Nigeria and 'Doek' in South Africa. The chosen style of headwrap worn by African women can display information about their marital status, and social and economic background.

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.”

Headwraps originated in Sub-Saharan Africa in the early 1700's and soon became prevalent among Nubian queens in Egypt. Headwraps had distinct meanings depending on the color and pattern. In the beginning of the 18th century, these designs communicated a woman's cultures and family practices.

Certainly, the headscarf is tied to religion. Many women who cover talk about it as a way demonstrating their submission to God and a constant reminder to hold fast to Islamic beliefs such as being honest and generous to those in need.

Anyone can wear a turban , even white culture. Again, the turban has been worn for many centuries, in many styles, among different ethnicities, with different fabrics, for many reasons.

Dreadlocks in Jamaica

The hairstyle was originally referred to as a “dreadful” hairstyle by the Euro centric Jamaican society. It later evolved to the term now used: Dreadlocks. Jamaicans also use the term Natty Dreadlock. Read more: Jamaica's high court rules school can ban dreadlocks.

Traditionally, when worn by men, the kufi is a sign of peace, mourning, renewal or protection of the mind.

Role and significance

The litham has served as protection from the dust and extremes of temperature characterizing the desert environment. In cases of blood feuds, it also served as protection against violence by making the wearer difficult to recognize.

A Zulu headress from the Shembe clan It is made from grass fiber, fat, ochre, metal and pigment. Isicholo is worn by married women as a sign of respect to one's husband and family, in addition to serving as a public symbol of marital status. Title: Isicholo / Zulu headdress.