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On the egde of the Sahara desert, a group of nomadic tribespeople gather each year for an unusual festival of "wife-stealing" where men wear elaborate makeup in the hope of attracting a bride \u2013 or just someone to share their bed for a night.<\/p>\n
For the Wodaabe people of Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria, women have a great deal of say in who they get to spend their nights with.<\/p>\n
And at the picturesque Gu\u00e9rewol festival in northern Cameroon, elaborately made-up men dance to impress a potential partner, while single women simply have to touch their favourite on the shoulder to select them for an intimate night in the bush \u2013 or maybe a life-long marriage.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: 'Hospitable' tribesmen let visitors sleep with their wives for a 'warm welcome' as part of tradition<\/b><\/p>\n
For more fascinating glimpses into extraordinary lives, check out the Daily Star's Real Life section<\/b><\/p>\n
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New York-based explorer Zann Parker visited the event for a video on her YouTube channel. <\/p>\n
She said: \u201cSome say this ceremony is a kind of beauty pageant. The men put on makeup and their decorative clothing and bring out certain dance movements to show off their strength and power \u2013 all with the hope of being chosen by a woman.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis is a situation where the woman gets to choose the man that they want to spend the night with or make their husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dads do get a say, but sometimes they can be over-ruled. Indeed when Zann was there, she saw a dangerous moment unfolding. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks like a father might not have been too happy,\u201d she said, as a white-robed man brandished a fearsome-looking machete. Ultimately, he was dragged away from the festival as cooler heads prevailed.<\/p>\n
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Wodaabe men spend hours preparing themselves for the annual festival, applying thick black eyeliner to emphasise the whites of their eyes and dark lipstick to make their teeth look brighter. A dark red stain covers the rest of the young men's faces, in a culture where a beautiful face is considered a man\u2019s best asset.<\/p>\n
The whole tribe gathers to enjoy the spectacularly-costumed dancing, but the most important spectators are young women \u2013 who have often travelled for many miles to take part in the annual festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe festival happens once a year,\u201d Zann added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt's a ritual where men show off their looks and dancing skills in hopes of either attracting a future wife or a fling for the night.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\n <\/figure>\n Mysterious tribe tattoo secret word all over their bodies to show faith <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Gu\u00e9rewol that Zann witnessed was particularly special. \u201cIn Cameroon,\u201d she said, \u201cthey have not had a Gu\u00e9rewol in three years because of Covid and so this one was enormous.\u201d<\/p>\n
After enduring a gruelling 16-hour train journey, followed by a motorbike ride on bumpy trails where she managed to tear off one of her toenails in a minor spill, Zann was rewarded by one of the most remarkable spectacles in the whole of Africa. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am at the biggest Gu\u00e9rewol completely by luck,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cOver 3,000 people are here today.\u201c<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n <\/figure>\n Explorer visits 'Amazon's deadliest tribe' who dip arrows in poison and eat monkeys <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
All of the men at the festival will have a small pocket mirror, so they can check that their make-up is absolutely perfect. Some men try to stop their wives attending the Gu\u00e9rewol, in case they are tempted by another man. <\/p>\n
One Wodaabe man told National Geographic magazine: \u201cWe all wear make-up and dresses. But what I like most is finding other women and taking them into the bush.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n <\/figure>\n Isolated Amazon tribe gutted outsider 'like a fish' to study his insides <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Another added: \u201cStealing wives is not an easy thing \u2013 only the Wodaabe know how.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou steal a woman from others and she will give sons to your lineage, even grandsons. Only the Wodaabe know how to do that.'<\/p>\n
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Tribe's 'wife-stealing' festival where men wear make-up to win 'bonk in a bush' - blogcamlodipine.com<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n