It's an indispensable fashion accessory, worn by every
Nigerian woman at some point. Some are never seen without it, including Nigeria's
finance minister who calls her modest headwrap her trademark. Others, such as
Nollywood actor Abiola Atanda, are known for their foot-high towers at red
carpet events.
But a Nigerian church has now banned its congregation
from wearing large headwraps, called geles, saying they form a
"barricade" when women sit side-by-side and are a potential security
risk amid attacks from militant Islamist groups.
Churchgoers who wear geles that seek to reach for the
heavens will have their "big headgears" confiscated from next month,
the congregation at St Theresa's Cathedral
Church in the south-eastern Nigerian
state of Enugu
have been warned. Other churches are debating whether to follow St Theresa's
head start.
"In view of the present security challenges the church
has urged women to stop coming to Sunday service with big headgears and bags to
enable security men to know when a bomb will be smuggled into the church,"
Reverend Father Uche Obodoechina said, adding that the headwraps made it
difficult to identify people. Catholic churches in Nigeria usually maintain that women
must cover their hair during services, which are attended by Nigerians of all
ages.
Capable of towering two feet in gravity-defying folds and
arcs of lace or stiff jacquard, geles are the crowning glory of traditional
outfits typically worn to church and sometimes seen as status symbols based on
size alone. Important occasions – of which weddings and churchgoing remain firm
favourites – can prompt intricate geles, usually finished off with stone-encrusted
sunglasses and flashy handbags. "Women feel naked without their geles on
special occasions," said Lagos-based makeup artist Kadiatou Sangare, who
often helps women tie elaborate creations.
The crackdown on geles is one of a series of increasing security
measures after Nigeria
endured a spate of bomb attacks on churches and mosques from militant Islamist
group Boko Haram. This year it has targeted at least six churches in northern
and central Nigeria,
prompting fears it is trying to ignite a sectarian war among Nigeria's
evenly split Muslims and Christians. It has never struck a southern Nigerian
state.
A military clampdown in recent months has curbed attacks,
but church authorities said they were taking no chances.
"It is an unusual move but they must have their own
information for doing so," said Monsignor Gabriel Osu of the Catholic
archdiocese of Lagos.
"Nigerians now are very security conscious and churches especially are
very vulnerable. So rather than take chances, they will do anything to minimise
the risks to their congregations; they're going that extra mile."
The move has divided opinion among churchgoers.
"It's a good thing," said taxi driver Idowu
James. "There is no doubt some people carry big handbags to intimidate
people lower down the ladder. Frankly, I don't think church is the right place
for exercises in fashion parade."
Others see wearing geles to be as inalienable a right as
going to church. "I've never heard such a thing and I don't think women in
my own church will abide by that. Most of the week we women are working, so
Sunday is the only chance to wear geles and dress up," said Lagos resident Grace
George. "We want to look our best when we go to church, and you cannot do
that if you expose your head."
Other churches have ramped up security as attacks have
led to drops in attendance. Many restrict cars from parking in their vicinity
during services. In at least two states – Plateau and Kogi – round-the-clock
armed guards have been posted outside some churches.
SOURCE: Guardian
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