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The Wodaabe tribe's men have a profound appreciation for beauty. An unattractive man may allow his wife to engage with someone more appealing to produce charming offspring.
In the Fulfulde language, Wodaabe means the Tribe of Forbidden, but their lifestyle is surprisingly liberated, joyous, and admiring of beauty. They revel in dance, cosmetics, and men often rely on these traits to stand out, seeking the attention of women.
Women strive to brighten their skin by tattooing turquoise from lips to skin. They often wear 4 to 5 large silver rings on their ears. Sun and cheek areas are adorned with unique patterns to ward off evil spirits. Men in the tribe usually enhance their facial features with golden powder, bold eye outlines using kohl (an Arab eye makeup), and dark lips. Black lip coloring aims to amplify the brightness of their teeth. Achieving such a face requires daily makeup routines, taking at least an hour, and during significant events, the beauty ritual can last all day.
Every year, as the rainy season concludes, the Wodaabe people organize a grand event - the Toureg festival. People gather at specific locations for trade, friendship, and finding love. It's also the time for the Geerewol beauty contest - the most anticipated event of the year. Three unmarried girls judge the competition. In the contest, young men beautify themselves and participate in dances to win the title of the most handsome man. The ability to roll their eyes and laugh is also highly appreciated as attractive qualities.
Wodaabe is also a progressive tribe in marriage. A girl can have romantic relationships with two men simultaneously before getting married. Conversely, men can have multiple wives, and they handle most tasks in life. The first wife is usually arranged by the groom's parents, chosen beforehand. Only from the second wife onwards does the man have the right to choose. During the wedding, the groom must present the bride's family with three livestock, and the bridegroom is not allowed to enter the bedroom until the gifts are complete for the bride's side. During sexual intercourse, they are not allowed to remove clothing. In public, men cannot hold their wives' hands, use her name, or engage in intimate conversations with their wives.
Despite their free-spirited lifestyle, these tribal members hold deep respect for their culture and traditions. Friendship is highly valued, and when hosting guests, they ensure lavish hospitality. Before parting ways, it's customary to share three cups of tea. The first cup symbolizes life, the second, sweeter one signifies love, and the third, delicately fragrant cup represents friendship.
The usual greeting ritual of the Wodaabe people is quite lengthy, taking at least 5 minutes. Wodaabe men often wear a leather pouch around their neck as a talisman, protecting them from malevolent spirits, wild creatures, and adding to their allure. Women have intricately carved calabash pipes, used to store food for the entire family. Their primary food source is dairy.
According to VnExpress
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourMarch 6, 2015
