HAKEEM Oluwasegun Olaleye, aka Segun Gele, is a Houston-based business man who makes his living from tying geles (African headtie) for women.

Geles come in different fabrics such as damask, jacquard, net and "aso-oke" (hand-woven fabrics popular for Yoruba special occasions in Nigeria). The most popular fabric among Nigerian women is a metallic fabric made from jacquard. Gele is often used to grace a woman's outfit, although most women tie it when they are wearing traditional African clothes, this is slowly changing and use of gele is being revolutionized to tying it with Western dresses or skirts. Also it is not uncommon to see women at African events all wearing the same gele in a uniform, this is called "aso ebi" in Yoruba.

Segun Gele, owner of Headturns, started his business when he saw a lady struggling with her headtie in a parking lot at a wedding party. He offered to help her with the headtie and within two minutes he whipped her two-yard fabric into a headturning, elegant piece of art. Before long he had a long queue of women waiting for him to help them with their headties and being the savvy businessman that he was, he charged them $7 per headtie.

That night he made $200.00 from just tying geles.

Now Segun Gele, no longer provides his services on the go like that, his services are by appointment and his packages start from $650.00 for Houston occasions and $1000.00 plus hotel, rental car and airfare for out-of-town events. Segun Gele earns approximately $60,000.00 per annum just from tying geles and has been global trotting every weekend for events since his business started.

He's not only a vivacious self-promoter; he's also clearly thrilled to find himself making money doing something that comes so naturally to him.

(Source: http://www.africanloft.com)