Love can be PAINFULL

Love is Pain

The pain tore through him like stepping on hot coal. He brazed himself through the pain as shouts of encouragement erupted from the crowd of villagers surrounding them. “My turn will come.” His mind told him to hold on. Another round of pain ran through his back but haven trained his mind to accept the brutality of the moment.

Ali is a twenty-year-old young man belonging to the Fulani Tribe, the largest ethnic group in Africa. Nomadic pastoralist, the Fulanis, are spread across West Africa and the Central African Region of the Largest continent of the Black Race. They are major cattle rearers who drift with the seasons and the availability of forage for their animals.

The Marriage custom among them is bizarre but a genuine test of manhood. Twice a year a celebration called the “Sharo” holds, and it is the passing rite into adulthood for the young men of the tribe. Suitors lined up to ask for the hand of the beautiful maidens of the tribe in marriage. Also, young boys are ushered into adulthood through this painful and grim process.

the-leopard-men-of-africa.

They strip these young men to the midriff and then go at each other with leather or cane whips. He who is able to withstand the most pain without giving up is deemed a man ready for marriage and also seen as bringing honour to his family lineage.A referee is chosen who oversees this painful proceeding to ensure the rules of the game are adhered to. For example, all strokes are to the upper torso and not to the head or the genitals.

In cases where a maiden has two suitors ,both of them contest her hand by literally beating each other to a pulp. Whoever of them begs to let go is the loser while the winner goes home with the maiden. Well, not on the same day, but then, it is considered that he is the chosen betrothed.

Africa :the origin of the mini-skirt

There has been one of two cases where one of the contestant has ended up losing  his life but largely the ceremony is regulated so no life is lost.

Love truly is pain.