Photo by André
Throughout humanity’s history the art of courtship and the mating ritual across cultures have always been uniquely different, more so in Africa where many cultures continue to apply a measure of conservatism in its values, norms and traditions.
Across the Sahel region of Africa, the mating ceremony commonly referred to as the Guérewol among the Wodaabe tribe presents a fascinating spectacle that combines a singing and dancing courtship ritual.
The Wodaabe People
Nomadic by nature, the Wodaabe people are pastoralists whose daily life is spent in cattle rearing and migratory movement in search of greener pastures for their herd. They are a subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group and can be commonly found in Central Africa including parts of other nations such as Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad, and Niger.
The Wodaabe people are often viewed as wild and uncivilized by neighboring tribes due to their adherence to older Fulani traditions which leaves unchecked their unbridled sexual freedom and the growing prevalence of adultery and polygamy within their circle.
As a people, the Wodaabe place a strong emphasis on certain codes and ethics that govern their community. Codes such as “munyal” (patience), “semteende” (modesty), and “amana” (loyalty) are required to be strictly adhered to by all.
For the Wodaabe, wealth, status, and sustenance come from the cattle that they rear. Their capacity to form with their animals makes them a suitable candidate as farm hands for anyone seeking to set up ranches.
Alfred Weidinger, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Marriage Among the Wodaabe
The Wodabbe practice a polygamous and polygynous form of marriage. Like most courting rituals amongst many cultures, the Wodaabe believe that the responsibility of attracting the attention of a woman and developing a relationship that ultimately culminates into marriage falls solely on the man.
Even in scenarios where the woman finds a man attractive, she is constrained by tradition and can only make her intentions known secretly while waiting in hopes that the man would take the needed steps to pursue a relationship.
The Guérewol Mating Ritual
Yaake dance demonstration. Dan Lundberg, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Unlike other cultures where the women would be expected to observe certain beauty therapy and were adornments to attract notice from potential suitors, the reverse is the case with the Wodaabe tribe where the men spend time, effort and financial resources into purchasing adornments and beautifying themselves ahead of the Guérewol ritual ceremony in order to be found attractive to the female.
On the said day, the men now completely covered with various types of adornments like feathers, beads and with faces painted to showcase their beauty commence the traditional Yaake dance.
The dance which requires the men to link their hands and repeatedly rise and fall on their toes is performed right before the women’s camp and provides the men the opportunity to showcase their vitality, stamina, and attractiveness. In choosing a partner, Wodaabe women place special emphasis on the height, eyes, and teeth of a suitable mate. During the dance ritual, the men would oftentimes show off their teeth while rolling their eyes as a way to stir up sexual desires within the female group.
This dance process which is also characterized by clapping, singing, and movements of the body could last for several days and long hours. To enable them to maintain their stamina, participants are given drinks with a hallucinogenic effect which helps sustain them over the period of the ritual.
Young Wodaabe women. Dan Lundberg, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
When a man catches a woman’s attention, she walks up to him touching him gently to indicate her interests. If he returns her gaze, he is then allowed to hold an extended conversation with her.
In some instances, married women could also find themselves establishing connections with a different man during the Guérewol dance ritual. Because the Wodaabe people do not hold the sacredness of marriage as long-lasting, the married woman is allowed to leave her current spouse and be taken away by the new suitor where she is allowed to stay with his family in a separate part of his home until she can finalize the dissolution of her previous marriage.
The Guérewol mating ritual provides winners with opportunities for immediate sexual escapades, lifelong mates, or opportunities to change spouses. More importantly, it positions the Wodaabe women with the freedom to make choices regarding mating and marriage.
Okechukwu Nzeribe works with the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, in Anambra State, Nigeria, and loves unveiling the richness of African cultures. okechukwu.onicima@gmail.com
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