Article

2007-04-09 Africa Horn

Happiness and hope - the other side of Sudan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Seafarious 2007-04-09 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 For at least a month before the wedding, a Sudanese bride is locked up at home, scrubbed daily with concoctions of turmeric, coffee, crushed almonds, rice and sandalwood. She is then placed aloft over a pit of burning perfumed wood to give the skin a beautiful colour and scent.

All her body hair is removed and her hands and feet are painted in intricate designs of henna. When she emerges on the first day of the wedding, her skin is dazzling.

That sounds... kind of nice, actually. Barbaric, but nice.

Posted by Secret Master 2007-04-09 01:38|| 2007-04-09 01:38|| Front Page Top

#2 Charge a fortune for this in a spa and you'd have women fighting to get a reservation.

Posted by Steve 2007-04-09 11:41|| 2007-04-09 11:41|| Front Page Top

#3 Yes, it does sound lovely. But only approximately two Sudanese wimminz (plus one expat wilfully ignorant Brit) can afford this type of ceremony. The rest of the wimminz can shut up and just be chatttel and targets for the janjaweed.

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2007-04-09 11:53|| 2007-04-09 11:53|| Front Page Top

#4 Locked up at home for a month being scrubbed and smoked over open fire? Golly, maybe Mr. Wife will give me one for Christmas!

Posted by trailing wife 2007-04-09 16:53|| 2007-04-09 16:53|| Front Page Top

23:58 anymouse
23:57 AlmostAnonymous5839
23:53 Frank G
23:53 AlmostAnonymous5839
23:46 Dar
23:43 Mac
23:39 Mac
23:36 3dc
23:17 Frank G
23:12 Senator Levin
23:11 Jackal
23:02 Jackal
23:02 gromgoru
22:54 ryuge
22:38 Frank G
22:35 Zenster
22:34 Slats Fluting2508
22:34 trailing wife
22:33 RD
22:29 RD
22:28 Zenster
22:27 trailing wife
22:16 Eric Jablow
22:14 Eric Jablow