Showing posts with label West; Africa; Niger; Sahel; Bororo; Fulani; Wodaabe; nomad; men; dancing; Gerewol; male; beauty contest; tribal; indigenous; people; girls; culture; anthropology; photo; photograph; image; picture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West; Africa; Niger; Sahel; Bororo; Fulani; Wodaabe; nomad; men; dancing; Gerewol; male; beauty contest; tribal; indigenous; people; girls; culture; anthropology; photo; photograph; image; picture. Show all posts

Monday, June 9, 2014

Niger’s Wodaabe Nomads: From Yakey To Gerewol



In previous posts my photographs showed how the Wodaabe nomads of Niger’s Sahel prepare for, and perform in, the Yakey dance, which doubles as a male beauty contest among the members of a clan. Again, in this new image, an important part of the game is the display of white teeth and eyes.


The Yakey was only a way to warm up for a much more important and challenging festival. This one, the Gerewol, now pits clan against clan. And pity the less attractive or less spirited dancers for the mockery they will endure, including the threat to get saddled up like donkeys,




The elders, women and men, spare none of the dancers. And as they spur them into a more energetic act you can imagine their words, which are universal. “Come on, girls. What have our grandsons come to?  What a generation of weaklings!



The old men selected a few of the prettiest girls to judge the dancers. Unlike the granddaddies, they watch the young dancers respectfully. When asked for their choices at the end, they will each rise and walk towards a dancer while pointing at him.




The onlookers.
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