SandrineLoncke: Trailer "Dance with the Wodaabes", A film by Sandrine Loncke, 90', 2010
The Cuckoo Courtship Dance of the Wodaabe, NigerIn the animal kingdom, creatures such as birds, bees and even antelopes tend to have a mating ritual that often involves some kind of dance. Known as the “courtship” dance, the male member of the species is supposed to put on a display brilliant and exciting enough to get the female to accept him. The Wodaabe tribe of Niger have borrowed a leaf from this ritual that nature has perfected in many species.
The men of the Wodaabe tribe take part in a ritual known as the “Guérewol” – courtship dance every year. The idea is to be as brilliantly dressed using ornaments and traditional face paints as possible. They then line and mimic their favourite birds in a dance that is to attract the women. In this culture, the white of the eyes and teeth are considered irresistible and to show off their potential sexual prowess, the men would roll their eyes back and bare their teeth to get the girls attention.