Gele – An Essential Style Item

Gele is the name of a headdress that is worn as part of the traditional dress for women in many African societies. The head scarf is made from a variety of materials such as aso-oke and damask.

How to tie your gele:

1. Fold the material depending on its width to make sure if covers the entire hair {how much you fold this material depends on its width}

2. Stand in front of a mirror or a friendly guide

3. Hold the material with the folded part away from your face

4. Place the material over your hair/head

5. Adjust the material so its middle is at the base of your neck. In doing so you will have two ends of material. Holding your head up, look straight ahead, grab the right end of the material midway to the end with your right hand and hold on to while grabbing the left end of the material with your left hand.
6. Hold the ends close together with your thumbs, allowing the rest of your fingers to be free.
7. Keep holding the material with your thumbs, but use the two fingers next to your thumbs to switch the right end of the material to your left hand and the left end to your right hand. {I always find that I bend my head down when doing this or you can just take any position best for you}.

8. Tighten the gele by pulling the ends, your right hand holding the formerly left end of the material will be up above your right ear.
9. Let go of the left side of the material but keep still hold the right.
10. I usually hold my head tilted a bit for this neck step. Take the right end around your head with your right hand until it gets to the left ear.
11. With your left hand, move the left end away from right side you are working with.
{Now here’s where you’re creativity comes in} You can twist, tuck, or tie this end. If you want to make a crown gele, you’re going to be tucking the ends in so no piece shows. And then you when the right end is tucked in, you will do the same with the left end.

12. Tie the right end and the left end together at their base. Tie the ends so that they are comfortable on your head-not too loose and not too tight. You should now have a Head-wrap that covers your head with two pieces hanging down-one longer than the other. You could just leave it like that, or you could experiment with twisting, tucking one end at a time or tying both pieces together until you end up with a “finished product” that you like you and is comfortable.

Instructive videos @ http://www.allafricanclothes.com/african-headdress.php or on Youtube

Gele not working for you? Try Fila Oge – a modern, hassle-free take on Gele from Milliner Eme Akenzua of John 3V3.

Fila Oge from John 3V3 Milliners is a modern take on this classic fashion staple (Image: John 3V3)