Women enjoy sexual freedom and can have as many husbands as they wish – this is the custom of the Wodaabe tribe, known for their polyandry.
In the book “The Nomadic People of Niger”, Belgian anthropologist Marion Van Offelen and American photographer Carol Beckwith reveal many fascinating insights about the Wodaabe tribe.
The Wodaabe are one of the last tribes in the region still living a nomadic lifestyle. They belong to the Fulani community but have some distinct differences.
It is their insistence on maintaining traditions that gives the tribe its name, Wodaabe, which means “those who respect taboos.”
The Wodaabe people describe themselves as birds in the bush, saying: “We never stay in one place. We leave no trace of where we have been. If strangers come too close, we will fly to another tree.”
The Wodaabe are a Muslim nomadic tribe, moving throughout the Sahara desert in small family groups. They can be found in African countries such as Niger, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Nigeria.
The Dance Showcasing Masculine Power
The most important day in the Wodaabe calendar is in September when the entire tribe gathers to celebrate the Gerewol festival.
After a year of nomadic life in the desert, Gerewol – a week-long festival – is an opportunity for the whole tribe to socialize, converse, and dance. The location of the festival is often kept secret, revealed only a few days in advance.
The highlight of the festival is the Yaake dance, where men dress up and perform in front of women to showcase “sexual prowess.”
The Wodaabe men prepare for the Yaake dance for six hours, painting their faces with red clay, applying black eye makeup, and using lip color to accentuate their teeth.
Men paint their faces with red clay, apply black eye makeup, and use lip color to showcase their teeth during the Yaake dance.
Additionally, they adorn their hair with white ostrich feathers to enhance their height and paint white stripes on their noses to sharpen their features. The purpose of the dance is to attract women, who watch from start to finish.
As the Yaake dance begins, men step forward in front of the female audience and judges. The “contestants” then stand shoulder to shoulder, slowly moving in a circle, singing and dancing.
The three most beautiful women in the tribe are chosen as judges for the Yaake dance. Each judge selects a winner, and these winners are celebrated by the tribe and gain the right to choose a wife.
Video of the Yaake dance by the Wodaabe tribe.
Freedom to Choose Husbands
Not only is the Yaake dance a competition, but it is also a place for women to find husbands. Men dance to showcase their physiques, but the decision ultimately lies with the women.
If a woman likes a man, she can wait for him to pass by and tap him on the shoulder.
“We enjoy watching the men at Gerewol – just a glance and we will know we like them,” a woman said in the documentary “Wodaabe Dance of Warriors.”
Married women are completely free to attend Gerewol and choose a more handsome husband. She can signal for him to come and “steal her away” from her first husband.
Not only a competition, the Yaake dance is also a place for women to find husbands.
A proud Wodaabe man revealed that he has “stolen” 30 wives during the Gerewol festival.
“You know, stealing a wife is not easy,” he said. “Only Wodaabe know how to do it! You steal a wife from someone else, and she will bear you sons, even grandsons. Only Wodaabe know how to do that.”
Overall, women in the Wodaabe tribe enjoy “unlimited” freedom in marriage and sexual relationships.
Unmarried girls are allowed to engage in sexual relations whenever and with whomever they wish. They can even be intimate with two men at the same time while unmarried.
Unmarried women in the Wodaabe tribe are allowed to engage in sexual relations whenever and with whomever they please.
If a woman marries an unattractive man, her husband may allow her to sleep with another man to produce more beautiful children, according to AFK Travel.
This is because the Wodaabe tribe places a high value on physical appearance among African tribes. They often consider themselves the most beautiful, and no man goes without carrying a pocket mirror, according to Daily Mail.
“A woman married to an ugly man will try to escape,” women in the tribe say. “If she doesn’t, it must be that she truly loves him.”
Additionally, the Wodaabe have peculiar customs regarding family life.
Traditionally, a wife lives with her husband only until she becomes pregnant. After that, she returns to her mother’s home to give birth, becoming a “boofeydo” – literally meaning “one who has made a mistake.”
Unmarried girls in Wodaabe are allowed to engage in sexual relations whenever and with whomever they want.
While being a boofeydo, a wife is not allowed to contact her husband. And the husband is also not permitted to show any concern for his wife or child.
After 2-3 years, the girl is allowed to visit her husband but is not allowed to live with him or bring her child to see him. This is only allowed when the girl’s mother has purchased all the necessary items for her house. By that time, the woman may be ready for a second marriage.
Unlike women, Wodaabe men have less control in marriage. They are rarely allowed to choose their wives and have no rights when their wives leave for another man.
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