World-renowned Nigerian textile artist and cultural icon, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, has been honoured as the African Headgear Queen at the 2025 World Headdress Celebration.
The award was among the highlights of the Second Headdress Celebration held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the Single Tennis Court, Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, graced by prominent traditional rulers, including the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Ọba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola, while the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Adelola, was represented by Chief Ayodele Ojelade. Other dignitaries in attendance included the Aare Onikoyi and Chief Olaniyan Sofela, the Sakosi of Owu Kingdom.
Although Mrs Davies-Okundaye, who was among the maiden set of awardees recognised at the 2025 World Headdress Celebration, was unavoidably absent at the Ibadan event, the organisers later presented her award officially at her office in Lekki, Lagos on Friday.
Presenting the award, Chairman of Omo Yoruba Atata Socio-cultural Initiative (OYASI) and convener of the annual World Headdress Celebration, Mr Olawale Ajao, explained that the honour was purely merit-based.
“We honour you with this award because of the artistically innovative head tie you constantly wear, which is the same criterion used for other awardees,” Ajao said
“When we celebrate World Headdress, we identify people renowned for consistently donning specific caps or head ties. That is why the awards are carved in the images of the particular headdresses associated with each recipient.”
He added that the awards were not a money-making venture, stressing that no financial contribution was expected from any awardee.
“In fact, cash or other material gifts should accompany this award, and we hope to achieve this when sponsors come on board,” he said.
In her response, Mrs Davies-Okundaye commended OYASI for the initiative, noting that it aligned with her lifelong commitment to promoting Yoruba culture, especially traditional headgear.
“Do you know what Prof. Wole Soyinka calls it? ‘Gele Galla,’” she said. “When people began to make money from tying gele for others, I went to places like Tejuoso and Jankara markets in Lagos to teach them how to tie it,” she added.
Continuing, she said “We started with ordinary gele and later transformed it into turban styles, which people embraced.”
Other absentee awardees whose honours were presented at their respective residences included Ambassador Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja, National Deputy Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development; and a posthumous award received by Honourable Farouq Arisekola in honour of his late father, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, renowned for his iconic Abetiaja cap.
Also honoured posthumously was the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, first Premier of Western Nigeria. Receiving the award on his behalf, Deputy Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, Mr Yinka Oladoyinbo, urged parents to teach Yoruba language to their children to prevent it from going into extinction. His remarks were corroborated by publisher Pa Debo Aawe, ace broadcaster Chief Adesoye Omotoso, and Alhaji Onaolapo Gbolagun, a retired broadcaster with the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, who was also recognised for his consistent wearing of the Abetiaja cap.
The 2025 World Headdress Celebration was chaired by Ibadan-based businesswoman, Mrs Deborah Awoyele, Chief Executive Officer of Deborah Olufunke Nigeria Limited. Other notable attendees included Prince Tunde Odunlade, CEO of Tunde Odunlade Art Gallery; Deputy Director of News and Current Affairs, FRCN Ibadan Zonal Station, Mr Adewumi Faniran; and the General Manager of Amuludun FM, Mrs Tolulope Onafowokan, represented by the station’s News Manager, Mr Oluseye Arowolo.
In her remarks, Mrs Awoyele urged Yoruba people to embrace and promote their culture, cautioning against portraying foreign cultures as superior to indigenous traditions.
