Festivals, about 11 to 17 Sept 2027
Guérewol
The Wodaabe courtship gathering in Niger, where young men paint their faces and dance to be chosen by women.
The Guérewol is an annual gathering of the Wodaabe, a Fula people of herders in Niger and neighbouring countries, held at the end of the rainy season, often around In-Gall when the Cure Salée salt festival takes place in September. Young men spend hours on their make-up: their faces are coloured with yellow or red clay, a line is drawn down the nose, and black kohl is used on the eyes and lips so that the whites of the eyes and teeth stand out. They dance the yaake in a line, widening their eyes and smiling, and young women choose the dancers they find most beautiful. Dates are fixed each year; the date shown is an estimate.
Guides tied to Guérewol
Still to be written: Smile.