Gèlè: The Crown of a Woman
In Yoruba culture, gèlè (the traditional women’s headwrap) is not just fashion.
It is a crown of identity, respect, and status.
A Short Story of Gèlè
Long ago in Ìfẹ̀, there lived a wealthy woman named Adùkẹ́. She was known not only for her beauty but for how she tied her gèlè. Whenever there was a festival, she would arrive with her headwrap styled high like a mountain. People used to say:
“Ẹni tí ó bá rí gèlè Adùkẹ́, ò ní gbàgbé rẹ̀.”
Whoever sees Adùkẹ́’s gèlè" will never forget it.
One day, the Ọba announced a festival to honour Òṣun. Women from neighbouring towns prepared carefully. Some tied Ìpákó Àyà (neatly at the back), while others chose Aláró-dídì (tall and flamboyant). But Adùkẹ́, wise as ever, tied her gèlè in a style called Kòkóró-ṣókè,standing tall, pointing upward, showing pride and confidence.
When she entered the courtyard, her gèlè announced her presence before she even spoke. The elders said:
A gèlè tied high means boldness and royalty.
A gèlè folded low and flat shows humility and respect.
A gèlè tilted stylishly to one side shows playfulness and charm.
From that day, gèlè was no longer seen as mere cloth but as a woman’s crown,speaking without words.
I will continue the story of Gèlè in my next episode
the types of gèlè and their meanings, fashion, and symbolism.
Look out for the next episode.
✍️
Ọmọ’bá Ọmọlúàbí
Omọ́lólá Adépẹ́jú.
