Gele is a traditional

head tie A head tie, also known as a headwrap, is a women's cloth head scarf that is commonly worn in many parts of West Africa and Southern Africa. The head tie is used as an ornamental head covering or fashion accessory, or for functionality in differe ...

native to Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin and Togo . The gele comes in specific shapes and designs. Gele is worn with other Yoruba women's outfits, like Iro ati buba, Komole and Asoebi. Funmia

It is a tied or wrapped around and styled piece of clothing around Yoruba women’s heads, which are used for fashion and special occasions. It has also been acculturated by some other

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

and African ethnicities through popular culture. Geles may also nowadays be designed in ready-to-wear styles called Auto-Gele, invented by Funmi Olurinola, which are purchased to avoid the need to tie the gele every time it is worn. Gele include many designs, some long, flared out, some layered, some fanned out, some wrapped up and bunched. Gele are made of many clothing materials, including Aso- oke, Adire, Aso-olona, Damask, Sego, Senghosen, Jawu, etc. Another type of headtie in Yoruba culture is Iborun, which is a regular headscarf, different from the gele.

References

{{reflist Yoruba culture Headgear African clothing Turbans