R6041/13 Headwrap; Gele

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white and silver gele headwrap styled on a mannequin

Gele (Museum Accession Number R6041/13) on display in the Aso-oke: A Celebration of Style display, 2018

This gele is an elaborate Yoruba headwrap, part of an outfit that was commissioned by the owner, Funmi, for her engagement ceremony in Lagos in 1995. Funmi and her husband Dotun had four wedding events in total, two took place in the UK and two took place in Nigeria. Aso-oke, which translates as ‘top cloth’ or ‘high status cloth’ is a formal textile, traditionally woven by men. It is primarily made from cotton or silk, woven in long narrow strips which are sewn together and then tailored into garments. Collected as part of the Fashioning Africa project.

Creator: unknown

Place: Nigeria, West Africa, Africa

Date: 1995

white, silver and blue aso-oke fabric
Gele (Museum Accession Number: R6041/13)
a young yoruba couple wearing white aso-oke at their engagement event
Dotun and Funmi wearing the white aso-oke at their engagement ceremony in Lagos, 1995

See more of Funmi and Dotun’s wedding looks:

a man's blue and gold aso-oke cap with two triangular flaps on a mannequin head
R6041/7 Hat; Fila; Abeti Aja
This abeti aja (aso-oke hat) is part of a groom's outfit, made in Ibadan, Nigeria and commissioned by the owner Read more
blue and gold aso-oke agbada robe
R6041/5-6 Aso-oke groom's outfit
This aso-oke agbada (robe), and sokoto (trousers) are part of an outfit that was commissioned for the owner, Dotun, to Read more
stripwoven aso-oke fabric in stripes of gold white and blue
R6041/4 Headwrap; Gele
This aso-oke gele is an elaborate Yoruba headwrap, part of an outfit that was commissioned by the owner Funmi for Read more