gele

American  

[ge-lee] / ˈgɛ li /

noun

plural

gele, geles

1. a head-tie or headscarf traditionally worn by Yoruba and other West African women.

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Example Sentences

Theresa Duru wore traditional Nigerian apparel, including a head tie, called a gele, that billowed toward the ceiling like a cumulus cloud as she busted moves and turned heads.

From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2021

They reclaimed the Yoruban gele, wrapped their heads in ornate turbans and flaunted their freedom and their West African ancestry.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2020

Elaborate headpieces and intricate braids actually predate slavery in the Americas and can be traced back to Africa, where headwraps, such as the gele, remain popular.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 13, 2017

Later that night, the party continued at the Park at Fourteenth, where the bride and her bridesmaids changed into traditional Nigerian gele, elaborately wrapped headscarves.

From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2017

"It spins a biological sample through a chromatograph gele."

From The Hate Disease by Leinster, Murray