How To Tie A Nigerian Gele Head Wrap

The Gele is a tall elegant head piece worn by women from Nigeria. Though originally worn  by women  from the Yoruba tribe it has become a popular fashion accessory for all women across the country and a must have for social functions .

The Gele is a large rectangular cloth tied on a women's head in a variety of intricate fashions. 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. Every Gele is unique and the same style cannot be achieved twice. The rule of thumb is the bigger the fabric the more elaborate the look can be.

I've always wondered what the process was to put this marvelous piece of art together. Thankfully I found this really helpful tutorial by Bronze Goddess NG  showing all the steps :)

Learn more about Nigeria and other African countries with DVDs 1 2 3 and the 'I Love Africa Map' .