Wedding traditions of Nouakchott
The Mauritanian capital, where a wedding is marked by griot singers, tea and the bride's melahfa wrap.
Mauritania weddings keep a Moorish tradition, with a griot, an iggawen, praising families with song and the ardin harp. The bride wears a melahfa wrap in bright colours. A custom called leblouh, in which girls were fed to gain weight, was once widespread and is now discouraged.
A wedding here
The groom's family offers a gift and the bride's family hosts the tea. The women dance and sing with the ardin. Meals include lamb and rice and camel milk.
Law and change
Leblouh, the forced feeding of girls to fatten them, is condemned by health groups and the government, but it persisted in some areas. The legal minimum age of marriage is 18, with exceptions via a guardian, and child marriage is a continuing concern.
Wedding customs of Nouakchott
Also part of it, and being written: Griot (The singer-historian.), Ardin (The harp.), Tea (The ritual of tea.).
A wedding trail idea for Nouakchott
- Capital Market The central market.
- Port de Peche The fishing harbour.
- National Museum of Mauritania A museum.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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