Bilqees and Lola

An explosion of creativity, combined with our innate cultural pride means that women are treating the Gele not just as an accessory but sometimes as the main focus of our look. We are on our way to a wedding and come here to Ridley Road to get our Geles fitted. These head-dresses are important in Yoruba culture - they are our crowns. This head-dress is significant at weddings, where we all have the same style. This is very important. Every woman coming to that celebration is going to have the same Gele… it’s like a uniform and gives us a sense of belonging.

Hackney is my community. Dalston is a place you can buy African food and we visit frequently. The African communities saw that the Caribbean communities were okay here and thought oh well it must be safe for us too. I think Hackney is very good when it comes to diversity because I come here and I see people like myself. It makes me feel safe, feel happy and it makes we want to be here.

We are from Lagos in Nigeria. I came to East London in 1987 and my sister in 2007. Before the pandemic we visited home regularly to see our mum, who is 103. We now call London home. I was young when I arrived, following my husband, and establishing my place here teaching young children and having my own career. I look after children at The Ann Taylor Children’s Centre. My role in Hackney’s education is important to me and I have looked after thousands of Hackneys children and many parents come back to visit me. My own children are now 31, 28 and 23 and all live in Hackney as well.

The African people have had similar experiences as the Caribbean Community regarding the Windrush scandal. My brother was here for two years, made his life here and was then deported. The appeal is taking forever, and I have written to Diane Abbott about his case. Although I am a British Citizen it is important to keep family ties together – he is my brother. I hope he can return one day as we miss him.