The Gerewol

The Gerewol takes place at the end of the rains, when the pastures allow scattered Wodaabe clans to regroup. For several days young men dance the yaake in a line, under a crushing sun.

They have coated their faces in red or yellow ochre, blackened their lips to bring out the whiteness of their teeth, drawn a white line down the ridge of the nose to lengthen it. Ostrich feathers, necklaces, embroidered tunics. The Wodaabe canon of beauty prizes height, slenderness, the whiteness of eyes and teeth: dancers roll their eyes, widen them, bare their teeth in codified grimaces, each held as long as possible without breaking rhythm.

Young women chosen for their judgement walk the line and point out the one who convinced them. The choice is entirely theirs, and may lead to a teegal marriage — marriage by choice, distinct from the koobgal arranged in childhood.