Peoples of Africa: Meet the Wodaabe of Niger and Chad
Do you know the Wodaabe of Niger and Chad? No? Then you will get to know.
Africa is one of the continents with some peoples that still keep their cultures intact, or almost.
Today, we continue the series of several articles about some of these African peoples (but very few) who managed to preserve their cultures intact for centuries.
In remote areas and rich plains of the continent, there are groups of people who continue to live peacefully, without depending on any of the inventions that the modern world values so highly.
We bring to our readers some of those communities whose traditions, customs, and way of life have surprisingly withstood the test of time and the sweeping force of modernization.
Although debatable for some, we cannot fail to recognize the courage of those who continue to live the way their ancestors lived generations ago.
The Wodaabe
One of the African peoples with unique cultural practices are the Wodaabe from Niger and Chad, traditionally nomadic cattle herders, living in a semiarid region in the southern Sahara Desert.
On their migratory journeys they cover a vast expanse, where they travel with their cattle and families through the arid areas of Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic.
The Wodaabe place great emphasis on beauty and charm as this plays a vital role in their culture.
When it comes to establishing relationships, the responsibility rests with the man, who should get a woman's attention.
Because of this, men invest vast amounts of time, money, and effort to beautify themselves.
The Festival of Gerewol
Once a year, they gather at a festival known as Gerewol.
Although the location of the ceremony is announced relatively shortly in advance, it is always held at the end of the rainy season in the Sahel area, so that there is plenty of pasture for cattle.
During this prestigious Gerewol festival, men compete for love, paint their faces brightly, wear colorful and elaborate clothing, and perform a series of choreographies to appeal to women.
The dances, which last for hours, are presented before judges who choose the men they think are the most beautiful.
Tradition
In the tradition for Wodaabe women, an attractive man is one who is tall, has regular white teeth, and a symmetrical face.
The Wodaabe speak the Fula language and are a subgroup of the greater Fula Nation that is spread across West Africa and beyond to Cameroon.
"Wodaabe” also means “taboo people”, which is believed to be a reference to their specificity within the dominant branch of Fula culture.
Also called "Boro”, which in the Fula language means – those who live in cattle camps.
The Wodaabe have a code of ethics (pulaaku) that values and emphasizes reserve and semteende (modesty), munyal (patience and fortitude), hakkilo (caution and forethought) and amana (loyalty).
What do you think about this, it's interesting, isn't it? Have you ever heard of the Wodaabe? Give us your opinion, don't hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share it and give it a “like/like”.
See too:
Peoples of Africa: Meet the Himba of Namibia
Peoples of Africa: Meet the Dogon of Mali
Peoples of Africa: The Kara of the Omo River
Picture: © DR
