What is woodabe?

The Wodaabe, also known as the Mbororo or Bororo, are a semi-nomadic ethnic group found in West Africa, primarily in Niger and Chad. They are most well-known for their annual Gerewol festival, a famous gathering which occurs in September and October where men dress in elaborate attire and compete for the attention of women through dance and song. The Wodaabe are predominantly Sunni Muslims, and their society is organized around clans and family groups. They are also known for their traditional husband-wife relationships, in which women are allowed to have multiple partners outside of marriage in order to ensure the birth of healthy children. The Wodaabe are a proud and self-sufficient people who value their traditions and way of life, and have managed to maintain many of their customs in the face of modernization and external pressures.