Gele
The large folded headwrap of Nigerian women.
Also: headtie
The gele is a large piece of stiff fabric, tied and folded into a sculptural headdress, worn by Yoruba and other Nigerian women for weddings, church and parties. The fabric, often aso oke or a lace, is shaped to be tall, wide or layered, and professional tyers are paid to wrap it. A good gele frames the face and shows the occasion's importance. The style varies by region, from the Hausa to the Igbo, and similar headwraps are worn in Ghana, as duku, and in South Africa, as doek. Gele wrapping has become a social media art, and tutorials are watched by millions.
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa