Lagos unveils gele festival to promote cultural heritage, creativity

The Lagos State Government has announced the inaugural Lagos Gele Festival, scheduled for November 8, 2026 to celebrate Yoruba cultural heritage and recognise artisans preserving the traditional head ties.

The festival holds at Eko Amore Garden, Lagos, from 5pm, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, in a post on X on Sunday.

Aregbe said the festival followed a proposal from a Lagos resident who called for the gele to be recognised, protected and given a place on the state's cultural calendar.

“Months ago, a passionate son of Lagos wrote to us about the gele. He asked that it be honoured, protected, and given its rightful place on the Lagos calendar. We listened. We affirmed. And today, we deliver. The Lagos Gele Festival is here!” he wrote.

Describing the gele as more than a traditional headtie, the Special Adviser called it a crown and a symbol of Yoruba identity and cultural heritage.

He said the festival would celebrate gele stylists, fabric makers, headtie tiers, photographers and generations of women who have sustained the tradition.

According to him, the initiative would provide an opportunity to showcase the creativity and craftsmanship associated with the gele while promoting Lagos culture to a wider audience.

Aregbe also invited Lagos residents, lovers of the city, brands and prospective partners to contribute ideas and support the festival.

He encouraged participants to attend wearing their gele, describing the event as a collective celebration of Lagos culture.

The festival is expected to spotlight traditional fashion and create visibility for practitioners in the creative industry, including those working in textiles, styling and photography.

The initiative also aligns with efforts to promote cultural tourism and preserve Yoruba heritage through events that celebrate indigenous traditions.