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Award-winning stylist threatens legal action over misattribution of work on Gele

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Gele: Stylist threatens legal action over misattribution


Award-winning Hollywood-based beauty entrepreneur Dr. (Mrs Azeezat Abiola Amusat, professionally known as Abiola Beauty Concept and popularly referred to as Celebrity Mama of Los Angeles, has threatened legal action against Linda Edozien and Beatrice Obinna Eneh, founders of Beauty in the Motherland (BITML); Oswald of Waldwide Pictures; and Irene Adubauba of Irene Artistry.

Amusat claims that her creative work was used without her permission and wrongly credited to another artist, Daniel Obasi, during the recently concluded Beauty in the Motherland Awards ceremony held at Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr. Amusat, CEO of Abiola Beauty Concept and Event Coverage, is a fashion designer, gele artist, and beauty stylist known for promoting African culture through traditional headwraps and fashion.

She is demanding that the organisers withdraw the credit allegedly given to Daniel Obasi and issue a public apology, insisting that the original creator of the work deserves proper recognition.

She also condemned the alleged misrepresentation, stressing that people's creative work, professional reputation, and intellectual property must be respected and protected.

How the Controversy Started

According to Amusat, the controversy began after the Beauty in the Motherland Awards ceremony, where she claims the organisers failed to properly verify who originally created the work before allegedly using it without permission and giving recognition to Daniel Obasi.

The work in question involves the traditional Yoruba gele that Amusat says she personally styled and wrapped on Beyoncé's head for the internationally recognised Black Is King production.

Amusat explained that she first learned about the incident through her fans, friends, and professional contacts, who began sending her messages and calling her repeatedly.

She said: "The number of emails, text messages, and phone calls I received was overwhelming. My phone kept ringing until about 4 a.m. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw pictures of my work, including Beyoncé wearing the Gele I personally styled and wrapped on her head, displayed on a large promotional banner, with Irene presenting my work as her own under the Ichafu brand."
Amusat described the incident as unfair and unacceptable, saying it was damaging to her brand and the professional reputation she has worked hard to build over the years.

Protecting Yoruba Gele and Its Cultural Identity

During previous interviews, including an appearance on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Amusat explained that Beyoncé wanted an authentic African look that would properly represent the beauty of the traditional Yoruba Gele.

She spoke about the importance of preserving Yoruba culture and promoting traditional Gele styling internationally.

Amusat also expressed concern about what she sees as attempts to replace the traditional Yoruba name gele with Ichafu.

She stated: "It is very sad and ironic to see what I believe are attempts by some people within the Igbo community to claim a traditional heritage that belongs to Yoruba culture. I believe all Yoruba people should come together to protect our gele heritage and speak against attempts to replace its name with Ichafu."

She stressed that people's original work should not be taken, copied, or presented as someone else's achievement, especially in an industry where creativity, reputation, and originality are extremely important.

"I took gele to Hollywood, not Ichafu. I have styled one of the biggest stars in the world, Queen Beyoncé. I put my brand on her, and she credited and endorsed me," Amusat stated.

Speaking about her experience working with Beyoncé, she added: "Being on set with Beyoncé was not a joke. You needed to be there to understand how much work and effort went into dressing the Queen herself and more than 20 other stars on set."
Dr. Abiola's Hollywood mentor, Michael Adegoke, a five-time United States ShowShowdancempion, actor, and show host, also expressed his disappointment over the controversy.

"For Waldwide Pictures and Irene Artistry, whom I believe were fully aware that their actions were wrong, to proceed with publicly presenting her work in this manner is deeply disappointing and unacceptable," Adegoke stated.

Abiola Beauty Concept's Journey From Hollywood to International Recognition

Abiola Beauty Concept gained international attention in 2019 following her reported involvement in the gele and beauty styling associated with Beyoncé's Brown Skin Girl music video and the larger The Lion King: The Gift and Black Is King projects.
Since then, Amusat has continued to build her career internationally, particularly in Hollywood.

She has appeared at hundreds of red-carpet events, worked with prominent personalities, and participated in major entertainment productions, fashion shows, cultural exhibitions, and award ceremonies.

Some of her notable professional achievements and appearances include:

1.⁠ ⁠African-Print Fashion Now! — Fowler Museum at UCLA
July 26, 2017 | Los Angeles, California
Amusat showcased her traditional headwrap designs and demonstrated how to create beautiful and elaborate gele styles during the museum's African fashion exhibition.

2.⁠ ⁠Ankara Festival Los Angeles
Multiple editions, including 2026
Amusat has been associated with Ankara Festival Los Angeles, where African designers and fashion professionals showcase their work.

She was also listed as one of the featured Nigerian designers for the 2026 festival, held September 4–6, with the runway finale on September 6.

3.⁠ ⁠Beyoncé's Black Is King
International Film and Visual Album Production
Amusat contributed traditional gele styling for Beyoncé in connection with Black Is King, helping showcase Yoruba fashion and African culture to an international audience.

Her involvement has also been associated with screen-production recognition.

4.⁠ ⁠Coming 2 America
Hollywood Film and Fashion Contribution
According to The Signal newspaper, Amusat was among the designers whose work appeared in Eddie Murphy's Hollywood film Coming 2 America.

5.⁠ ⁠AFRO Awards 2025
October 25, 2025 | Los Angeles, California
Amusat was honoured with the African Culture & Beauty Stylist Award at the 2025 AFRO Awards, according to coverage published by SHEEN Magazine.

The award recognised her contributions to African fashion, traditional beauty styling, and cultural promotion.

6.⁠ ⁠Black Excellence Gala
BET Awards Weekend | Los Angeles, 2026
Amusat was reportedly honoured for her contributions to fashion during the Black Excellence Gala in Los Angeles.
A report published in June 2026 highlighted her recognition. The exact event date and official award title are yet to be confirmed.

7. The reference to Cedric the Entertainer and a Nigerian wedding in Season 4 points to the Season 4 finale of the CBS sitcom The Neighborhood.

Other Professional and Cultural Engagements
Amusat has also reportedly been involved in several cultural, educational, and community activities, including:
UCLA's Fowler Museum: African fashion exhibitions and traditional gele demonstrations.
New York Broadway: Fashion and styling-related work.

California Lutheran University: Professional and cultural engagements.

Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles: Cultural and community-related activities.

Through these engagements, she has continued to promote African fashion and traditional beauty styling beyond Nigeria.
Amusat Demands an Apology and Threatens Legal Action

Following the controversy, Amusat questioned why the organisers of Beauty in the Motherland failed to properly investigate the ownership of the creative work before giving credit to another artist.

She is now calling on Irene Artistry and the founders of Beauty in the Motherland to withdraw the disputed credit given to Daniel Obasi and issue a public apology.

According to her, people who work hard to create something deserve recognition for their efforts, and no one should be allowed to take credit for another person's work.

She warned that if the matter is not properly addressed, she may have no choice but to take legal action to protect her creative work, brand, and professional reputation.

For Amusat, the issue goes beyond a single award. It is about protecting people's creative work, respecting African culture, giving credit where it is due, and ensuring that the beauty and entertainment industries remain fair and credible.

Culled from Azeezat's Facebook page