Gele (head tie)

Gele is a traditional head tie native to Yoruba women of West Africa (Nigeria, Benin & 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. It is a tied or wrapped around and styled piece of clothing around Yoruba women's head, used for fashion and occasions. It has also been acculturated by some other Nigerian and African ethnicities through popular culture. Gele 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 everytime it is worn.

Gele includes many designs, some long, flared out, some layered, some fanned out, some wrapped up and bunched. Gele is tied in 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.