The item that I chose was a piece of clothing called a Gele. Its origin was as a symbol of wealth and status, in which the larger the Gele, the higher the status one has; it also represented maturity and elegance. The Gele is something that is still very prominent in Yoruba culture today, and is becoming more and more creative, and matches modern trends without being overshadowed by new trends. As Yoruba culture expands, more and more people are wearing Geles with more casual style clothing where whereas it used to only be worn with traditional Yoruba attire.  The Gele is also a symbol of empowerment. A lot of Nigerians live in poverty, but the Gele provides a form of income for many families that are able to make this item. But it also empowers women by allowing them to express themselves with vibrant colors and show their femininity. My family and I wear the Gele whenever we have a big event with family, and it symbolizes to me a strong connection that I still have with the place where I was born and my culture. The Gele also represents the resistance that Nigerian culture has to Western trends that could erase the beauty of our culture. Even as more and more people start to immigrate to the U.S. and many other countries, the beauty of Nigerian/Yoruba culture is still passed down from generation to generation, as the new generation introduces new ideas, our culture is expanding. To me, being American is about the intertwining of cultures and the ability to have the freedom to be able to share and pass down traditions to each generation, keeping your culture alive.

– ES

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant