Wodaabe Tribesmen Make Up to Win An Evening With Women

Have you ever wondered why women always have to dress up for men? Well, this African tribe has turned the tables. Men of the Wodaabe tribe, in deepest Chad, are required to don sequins, facepaint and beads once-a-year before dancing through the night in the hopes of winning an evening with a woman.

As the men frolick in traditional circle and line movements, their brightly coloure

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eads and necklaces glinting in the fire-light, the women watch and choose whoever takes their fancy. According to Geography teacher Trevor Cole, 64, the pair then find a place to lie together under the stars. ‘This may be a one-night affair, or last for longer, sometimes culminating in marriage,’ he said.

The dancing continues from dusk to dawn, despite the 77F (25C) evening heat, in an annual festival – known as a Gerewol – which has been happening for centuries.

Two main Wodaabe groups attended this year. The Sudosukai, who are finely built, and

the Djapto, who are more heavily scarred than their compatriots. The cuts are made by slicing the skin with a razor blade and rubbing in ash, resulting in a black tattoo which is slightly raised.

‘They dance endlessly at this festival and on the last night, they danced until dawn,’ said Mr Cole. ‘They have their own ancient rhythms which are repeated over and over. To participate in the Gerewol, the girls must have menstruated prior to the festival. Effectively when choices are made the girls know they are going to have s3x in the bush with the chosen Wodaabe male, if the male accepts them.’

The event is not yet on the tourist trail, making it a hidden gem. A few used to see it in Niger but, political instability in the country has kept tourists away in recent years.