Chinese nationals joined Nigerians in celebrating Yoruba cultural heritage at the maiden Lagos Gele Festival, embracing the traditional headtie as the Lagos State Government announced a ₦2 million prize for the best gele design.
The festival, organised by the Lagos State Government on Sunday at Eko Amore Garden, Lekki, attracted fashion designers, entertainers, cultural enthusiasts and international guests who gathered to celebrate the creativity, artistry and cultural significance of gele styling.
Members of the Chinese community were among the participants, adding an international dimension to the celebration as they proudly wore the traditional Yoruba headtie.
Beyond showcasing cultural heritage, the government said the festival was designed to promote gele styling as a viable source of employment and economic empowerment, particularly for women and young people.
According to Galaxy TV, the Lagos State Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, disclosed that the initiative was inspired by a letter from a Lagos resident who appealed to the government to recognise, preserve and promote the traditional headtie by incorporating it into the state’s cultural calendar.
Aregbe explained that the festival was established to celebrate and recognise the contributions of gele stylists, fabric makers, headtie artists, photographers and women who have sustained the tradition over the years.
The ₦2 million prize for the best gele design emerged as one of the major highlights of the festival, rewarding creativity, craftsmanship and innovation in transforming fabrics into elaborate and artistic headtie designs.
The Special Adviser had also announced training opportunities for aspiring and practising gele artists, with programmes covering practical styling techniques, entrepreneurship and mentorship.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos last week, Aregbe said the state government was also working towards establishing a database of creative industry practitioners to connect trained gele artists with event organisers, major social functions and tourism showcases across Lagos.
According to him, the initiative would provide practitioners with access to paid engagements beyond the festival, enabling them to develop sustainable careers and generate income from their creative skills.
He added that the training initiative would be sustained through masterclasses and mentorship sessions to accommodate the growing interest in professional gele styling.
“If we empower one woman, we empower the family and the entire community,” Aregbe said.
The festival also attracted notable personalities from the entertainment industry, including actresses Sotayo Gaga and Bukky Wright, singer Darey Alade, and comedian Folagade Banks, among other distinguished guests.
The gele, traditionally worn by Yoruba women during weddings, religious gatherings and other significant social occasions, remains an enduring symbol of elegance, identity and cultural pride in Yoruba society. The maiden festival represents another effort by the Lagos State Government to preserve this heritage while positioning its creative artistry as an avenue for tourism development and economic empowerment.
