The newer generation is pushing the Gele to new heights through innovative styling and execution

A reflection on how the gele is being reimagined through fashion, pop culture, and a new generation redefining cultural expression.

Every season, we see something classic become renewed in the fashion world, especially here in Nigeria. It is a reminder, once again, that fashion is ever-evolving and constantly being reinterpreted into something new. Most recently, this can be seen with the resurgence of the Gele. Just within the past month alone, we’ve seen it on Ayra Starr’s album cover, and in “The Devil Wears Gele” production. Both are moments that had the internet talking.

Not that the Gele ever disappeared. It has always remained a part of our culture. Our mothers and aunties still tie it to church every Sunday. I even wore one myself to church last week for a Thanksgiving service. What is changing, however, is the way younger women are embracing it. The Gele is no longer reserved strictly for owambes, weddings, parties, or special occasions. Women are now incorporating it into their everyday wardrobes and personal style. 

There has been a kind of fusion happening with the Gele as a headpiece and different styles of fashion. Someone can wear a corporate outfit with a Gele elegantly tied on their head. Another person might pair a Gele with a Y2K-inspired look, a simple mini dress, or even an Alté-inspired outfit. The styling possibilities have become endless. 

This new wave portrays a generation that is beginning to fully appreciate the beauty of the Gele and what it means to confidently embrace different parts of one’s culture without feeling like it is “too much” or overly traditional. There is a growing understanding that the Gele can exist anywhere, with anything, and that fashion, especially cultural fashion, does not have to follow rigid rules. 

Read also: Move over corsets! Iro and buba is making a comeback with the ladies

A symbol and cultural language 

The Gele is a traditional, structured head tie originating centuries ago among the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria. Often described as a crown-like adornment, it is deeply rooted in culture and heritage. Historically, the Gele came in many forms, styles, and meanings, serving as a visual language that communicated social status, marital status, and even emotional expression, whether joy or sorrow.

Naturally, it became an essential part of ceremonial life, worn at weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals, and other significant milestones, often paired with the iro and buba combo.

Today, the Gele has evolved beyond its traditional settings. The art form has spread across the country, embraced and worn by many, and continues to be widely revered. Adorned to complete a look and crown the head in all its glory, without ever forgetting where it comes from.

Read also: These traditional Nigerian textiles are getting a facelift

The Ayra Starr album poster moment that brought gele back into focus

The heightened interest in the Gele, at least over the past month, can be attributed to several factors, but a major catalyst appears to be the poster image for “Starr Girl”, Ayra Starr’s third studio album, officially set for release on 14 August 2026. Photographed by Axle Joseph, the cover shows her in a dark room, styled in a bold yellow and purple bodycon mini dress, with purple laser beams shooting out from her fingers as she strikes a pose.

However, the standout element of the image is the Gele, which sits elegantly on her head. 

That single visual was enough to spark widespread reactions from fans and creators alike. Many began reinterpreting the look across their own platforms, recreating the styling and, most notably, incorporating the Gele into their own versions of the cover-inspired aesthetic.

Not just the influence of Starr Girl’s cover alone, there have been several other notable moments contributing to this renewed visibility.

Read also: Patewo hairstyle is back: The reimagined takes we love

The Gele across recent pop culture and fashion

During the 2025 Lagos Fashion Week, multiple brands showcased models on the runway in ready-to-wear pieces styled with striking Geles. Among the notable ones were looks from Jermaine Bleu. This, alongside several other interpretations that reimagined the traditional headpiece in contemporary fashion contexts.

Younger creatives, artists and influencers have also embraced the Gele in their everyday styling. Artist Fimí, known for her music and distinctive fashion sense, often incorporates the gele as a focal point in her looks. Influencer and model Omoloto similarly experiments with traditional styling, frequently pairing gele with modern outfits. Even internationally, American artist Aliyah’s Interlude has highlighted her appreciation for the gele, often incorporating it into her styling and further amplifying its global appeal.

Additionally, photographer and creative director Abdulbarr Logunleko created a visual project titled IyàTokyò in 2025, which quickly gained widespread attention online. The series explored a cultural fusion between Japan and Nigeria, blending the Japanese kimono with the Nigerian gele in a striking fashion narrative.

The project showcased two powerful cultural symbols. Each deeply tied to identity, pride, and status, brought together in a way that highlighted both contrast and harmony through styling and visual storytelling.

 Gele as a living symbol of identity and pride

The gele will always remain a symbol of culture, history, and background for the Yoruba people and, by extension, for Nigeria as a whole. It goes far beyond being just a headwrap and accessory. Wearing it carries a deeper sense of pride, grounding, and cultural awareness — an anchor that has held meaning across generations.

Even after so many years, it continues to move people and remain relevant across every stage of life and era. This speaks to its enduring significance and how deeply it is woven into our sense of self.

Read more: Learn the art of headwraps this holiday with our DIY Gele guide

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