What is "head tie"

A head tie is a common women's cloth head scarf in many parts of Southern and Western Africa.

In South Africa and Namibia, the Afrikaans word "doek" (meaning "cloth") is used for the traditional head covering used among most rural elderly African women. In other parts of the continent, terms like "duku" (Malawi, Ghana), "dhuku" (Zimbabwe), "tukwi" (Botswana), and 'gele' (Nigeria) are used. The head scarf is used as an ornamental head covering or fashion accessory, or for functionality in different settings. Its uses or meaning can vary depending on the country and/or religion of those who wear it.

West Africa. In Ghana, opportunity to wear a "duku" usually falls on a religious day of Friday, Saturday or Sunday, depending on if they are Muslim, Seventh-Day Adventists or Sunday church-going Christians.

In Nigeria they are known as Gele, and can be rather large and elaborate. Although gele can be worn for day-to-day activities, the elaborate ceremonial ones (usually made of a material that is firmer than regular cloth) are worn to weddings, special events, and church activities. A resurgence in African pride, especially among the youth, has led to its usage in many Western nations outside of Africa. When worn, especially for more elaborate events, the gele typically covers a woman's entire hair as well as her ears. The only part exposed is her face and earrings on the lower part of her earlobes. The gele is accompanied by traditional African attire that may or may not have the same pattern as the headtie itself.