The Enchanting Gerewol Festival: Where Love and Dance Collide

Imagine a beauty pageant where instead of fame and fortune as prizes, the winner gets the chance to secure a wife or even woo an already married woman. Don’t be surprised. Such a thing exists. A glimpse into the lives of the Wodaabe people and their Gerewol festival unravels an enthralling group.

The Gerewol festival is celebrated among the Wodaabe people, a nomadic group primarily inhabiting Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. The festival is one where many young men in dazzling costumes have the opportunity to entice their possible partners with their beauty and dance. It is more or less an annual competition among men seeking to attract young ladies. Instead of the modern dinner dates in expensive restaurants with flowers or rides in expensive limousines, the romantic gesture of the Wodaabe tribe comes in the form of mesmerising dances and enchanting smiles.

Towards the end of September, when the rainy season is gradually coming to an end, eligible men will be seen starting their preparations for the festival. The festival takes place right after the rainy season when the pastures are still green and everything still smells fresh. Although the highlight of the Gerewol festival is the dance competition by the Wodaabe men, the festival serves as a chance for the nomadic community to come together to celebrate their cultural identity and also maintain social harmony. When a successful match is made, the bond between different families is also strengthened.


The Gerewol festival is a week-long. At dawn, the young men wake up and take their time dressing up to impress their ladies. They use clay to paint their faces dark red. Some prefer their faces brighter and choose the orange face powder. As there would be lots of teeth showing, the men would accentuate the whiteness of their teeth by using dark lipsticks. They also draw white dots on their faces and use ostrich tails on their headgear to make themselves look taller. When it’s time for the dancing ritual, the men line up in a row and start to showcase their dancing skills. While they dance, they have their eyes wide open
and show their teeth. All this is in a bid to make themselves more attractive to the ladies of marriageable age who walk in front of them with their poker-like faces and choose the man they fancy. Polygamy is allowed among the Wodaabe tribe, so even an already married woman can admire and choose a second husband, and the union would be accepted.
After choosing a man, the lady goes back to her tent and waits for him. If the man likes her, he will follow her, and this might result in a night of pleasure, which may lead to a lasting relationship or maybe just a “one-night stand”. It’s not a big deal if it does not work out; the Wodaabe people are not big on virginity. Marriage negotiations between the families would begin immediately if all went well.


The festival comes to an end after an entire week of exuberant celebrations, and everyone returns to their everyday lives. No doubt the festival is an interesting one as tourists from different countries join different tour groups just to witness the ceremony. The Gerewol festival will always have a special place in the hearts of everyone who experiences its enthralling attraction thanks to its kaleidoscope of colours, throbbing rhythms, and deep connections. It serves as evidence of the continuing influence of tradition and the capacity of cultural festivities to bring together and uplift people from all over the world.


Oke Oluwadamilola

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