Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

Categories: Africa |

Women's beauty contests have long become familiar, but among the representatives of the strong half of humanity, such competitions are rare. The inhabitants of the Wodaabe tribe living in Niger really know a lot about male charm. A holiday is held here every year, where men compete for the title of the very best. Competitors are evaluated by women, and if they wish, they can take any of them as husbands!

(Total 14 photos)

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger
Source: culturalologia.ru

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

1. Beauty contest among men in the Wodaabe tribe (Niger). The contestants lined up in front of the jury

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

2. Usually, men prepare for the competition in advance: they decorate outfits with bright accessories, and apply yellow ocher to their faces. The holiday traditionally opens with a parade, the brave warriors of the tribe dance and sweat right in the middle of the desert to impress the strict judges. Among the criteria by which the contenders are evaluated are the beauty of the face, high growth and grace, the originality of the outfit, the brightness of the eyes and the whiteness of the smile.

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

3. Impressive outfits with bright accessories

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

4. Spectacular headdress

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

5. Jewelry, body painting and bright ornaments on clothes

The main revered values in the life of this tribe are beauty, livestock and family. Since ancient times, this tribe has been engaged in cattle breeding, today most of the clans are engaged in the supply of meat, feed the population from Lake Chad to the Atlantic coast of Senegal.

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

6. Men of the Wodaabe tribe in national skirts

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

7. Healthy teeth are one of the criteria for beauty.

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

8. Expressive eyebrows and lips

An unusual holiday-competition takes place in September at the end of the rainy season before the start of the annual migration of animals. The action was called "Gerevol", it unites residents of various clans. In addition to the beauty contest, young people come here to take part in camel races, as well as in an unusual marriage ceremony. Women who appreciate the dexterity and beauty of men have the right to choose their husband among the contestants.

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

9. Men dream of finding their love on this holiday.

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

10. Almost Hollywood smiles of men from the Wodaabe tribe (Niger)

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

11. Women of the Wodaabe tribe are recognized as one of the most beautiful in Africa.

Competitions are held for several days under the scorching sun in the middle of the Sahara. To keep fit, locals often drink a special infusion on the bark of trees, which has a hallucinogenic effect. Apparently, from this their movements really become more plastic, and their smile becomes wider.

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

12. Ritual dance

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

13. Male beauty pageant

Grooms Fair, or How is the beauty contest among men in Niger

14. Preparation for the holiday, make-up

Keywords: Groom | Beauty pageant | Men | Niger | Sahara | Fair

     

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