{
  "id": 19230110,
  "title": "Chinese guests rock Yoruba headties at Lagos gele festival",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/chinese-guests-rock-yoruba-headties-at-lagos-gele-festival",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-09T22:22:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/chinese-guests-rock-yoruba-headties-at-lagos-gele-festival/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese nationals attended the inaugural Lagos Gele Festival alongside Nigerians, proudly donning the traditional Yoruba headtie known as gele. Organized by the Lagos State Government in Lekki's Eko Amore Garden, the event showcased the artistry of gele styling for fashion practitioners, entertainers, cultural enthusiasts, and international guests. The festival aimed to celebrate the Yoruba culture, promote gele styling as a source of employment and income, particularly for women and young people, and honour gele stylists, fabric makers, headtie artists, photographers, and women who have preserved the tradition over the years. A prize of ₦2 million was offered for the best gele design, highlighting the creativity and skill involved in crafting these elaborate headties. While the winner of the competition remains undisclosed, the government plans to establish a database of creative industry practitioners to connect gele artists with event organizers, major functions, and tourism showcases across Lagos, aiming to build sustainable careers from their skills. Celebrities such as actress Sotayo Gaga, entertainer Bukky Wright, singer Darey Alade, and comedian Folagade Banks attended the event, further highlighting the cultural significance of the gele in the region's fashion and identity.",
  "summary": "Chinese nationals joined Nigerians to celebrate Yoruba culture at the maiden Lagos Gele Festival, where the state government offered a ₦2m prize for the be Read More: https://punchng.com/chinese-guests-rock-yoruba-headties-at-lagos-gele-festival/",
  "key_points": [
    "Chinese nationals attended inaugural Lagos Gele Festival.",
    "Event showcased Yoruba gele styling for employment.",
    "Prize of ₦2 million offered for best gele design."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}