Adejoke Tugbiyele (Nigerian–American, born 1977). <em>Gele Pride Flag</em>, 2014. Fabric, metallic thread, brass, 64 x 175 in. (162.6 x 444.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the artist in honor of the LGBTQ brothers and sisters we lost in Orlando, 2016.24. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: , 2016.24_PS11.jpg)

Adejoke Tugbiyele (Nigerian–American, born 1977). Gele Pride Flag, 2014. Fabric, metallic thread, brass, 64 x 175 in. (162.6 x 444.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the artist in honor of the LGBTQ brothers and sisters we lost in Orlando, 2016.24. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: , 2016.24_PS11.jpg)

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Is this banarasi fabric? Does this work have to do with the Indian transgender Hijra community?

Interesting thought! This flag is actually sewn from six gele. A gele is a head scarf worn by Nigerian women for important events.

Tugbiyele identifies as a queer woman of Nigerian descent. By bringing together six Nigerian textiles associated with womanhood, and putting them together in a spectrum like the "rainbow" of the gay pride flag, she is combining and affirming two aspects of her identity.

Wow! I thought it was banarasi sari fabric! Thanks for informing me!

Tell me more.

The artist assembled this work by sewing together six gele, headscarves worn by Nigerian women for important events.

The artist herself is of Nigerian descent and identifies as queer. By bringing together Nigerian textiles associated with womanhood and the colors of the gay pride flag, she is combining and affirming two aspects of her identity.

What does Gélé mean?

A "gele" is a head scarf worn by Nigerian women for important events. In this piece, Adejoke Tugbiyele sewed together 6 geles to make her flag.

Interesting!

Yes indeed. Tugbiyele identifies as a queer woman of Nigerian descent.

By bringing together these Nigerian textiles associated with womanhood, and putting them together in a spectrum like the "rainbow" of the gay pride flag, she is combining and affirming two aspects of her identity.

What is special about the material in the "Gele Pride Flag"?

A gele is a headscarf worn by Nigerian women for important events. The artist has sewn together six different colors as a means of representing her identity as both a queer woman and as a person of Nigerian descent.

She has also carried this piece in protests and gay pride parades in the US and in Nigeria, making it also a kind of protest banner.

What’s the story behind this?

Here is the story: The artist assembled this work by sewing together six gele. A gele is a head scarf worn by Nigerian women for important events.

The artist, Adejoke Tugbiyele, identifies as a queer woman of Nigerian descent. By bringing together six Nigerian textiles associated with womanhood, and putting them together in a spectrum like the "rainbow" of the gay pride flag, she is combining and affirming two aspects of her identity.

Indeed, she has said: “Activism helps me stay in touch with the issues and ideas I respond to in my work. My work in turn educates and empowers others in the LGBT movement in Nigeria and beyond. Both depend on each other.”

Gele Pride Flag

Adejoke Tugbiyele

Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art

ARTIST Adejoke Tugbiyele, Nigerian–American, born 1977

MEDIUM Fabric, metallic thread, brass

DATES 2014

DIMENSIONS 64 x 175 in. (162.6 x 444.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 2016.24

CREDIT LINE Gift of the artist in honor of the LGBTQ brothers and sisters we lost in Orlando

EXHIBITIONS

Half the Picture: A Feminist Look at the Collection

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Adejoke Tugbiyele (Nigerian–American, born 1977). Gele Pride Flag, 2014. Fabric, metallic thread, brass, 64 x 175 in. (162.6 x 444.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the artist in honor of the LGBTQ brothers and sisters we lost in Orlando, 2016.24. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: , 2016.24_PS11.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 2016.24_PS11.jpg., 2018

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RIGHTS STATEMENT © Adejoke Tugbiyele

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