In the Sahel, when the rains end, Wodaabe men prepare for the most important event of the year: making an impression.
It is called Gerewol, and for days the men paint their faces with ochre and black, put on their finest clothes and accessories, and intensify their gaze so that their eyes and white teeth stand out. They dance in a line for hours, singing and moving without rest, showing endurance and charm before those who truly decide: the women.
The women observe every gesture, every look, every step, and will choose their partner based on what they see in that dance. In the West, courtship usually works the other way around, but for the Wodaabe, male beauty and the patience to dance for hours are the most serious calling card a man can offer.